5.1-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Myanmar’s Naypyidaw A Day After Tremors Kill 1,000 People
Myanmar experienced a 5.1 magnitude earthquake near Naypyidaw on Saturday, following the devastating 7.7 and 6.4 quakes on Friday. The death toll from the initial earthquakes has risen to 1,002.
A day after powerful earthquakes devastated Myanmar, claiming over 1,000 lives, the country was struck by another tremor of magnitude 5.1 on Saturday, the united states Geological survey (USGS) reported.
According to the USGS, the fresh seismic activity was recorded around 2:50 pm near Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The extent of damage or casualties from Saturday’s quake remains unclear. The tremor hit as authorities were working to repair roads and restore essential services, including electricity, phone, and internet connectivity, which remained disrupted across most of the capital.
Myanmar was jolted by a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock just 11 minutes later, causing extensive destruction. The worst-hit area was Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, home to around 1.5 million people. Buildings, bridges, historical sites, and other public infrastructure suffered severe damage.
Myanmar Death Toll Likely to Rise Further
The military-led government of Myanmar, in a statement on Saturday, confirmed that 1,002 people had been killed, 2,376 injured, and 30 others were reported missing. The statement informed that the toll could rise further as “detailed figures are still being collected,” news agency Associated press reported.
Myanmar, which is already grappling with a prolonged civil war, is facing additional challenges in its relief operations due to the ongoing conflict. The earthquake, which struck near Mandalay, triggered landslides, caused bridges to collapse, and even burst a dam.
Tremors in Thailand, Nine Dead in bangkok Skyscraper Collapse
The impact of the quake was also felt in neighboring Thailand, where tremors rocked bangkok and several provinces. In the Thai capital, a 33-storey under-construction skyscraper collapsed, leaving at least nine people dead. Rescue operations at the site entered their second day on Saturday, with 47 individuals, including Myanmar workers, still missing.
Thai authorities said the quake and aftershocks were felt across most provinces, with several northern areas, including Chiang Mai, reporting damage to homes, hospitals, and temples. However, casualties were reported only in Bangkok.
Naruemol Thonglek, 45, who was awaiting news about her partner and five friends working at the collapsed site, said, “I was praying that they had survived, but when I got here and saw the ruin—where could they be? In which corner? Are they still alive? I am still praying that all six are alive.”
Waenphet Panta, another anxious relative, said she last spoke to her daughter Kanlayanee an hour before the earthquake struck. “I am praying my daughter is safe, that she has survived, and that she’s at the hospital,” she said, as quoted by AP.
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