FollowThis afternoon, a significant earthquake struck central Myanmar, sending shockwaves that were felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake had a magnitude of 7.7 and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers near the city of Sagaing, approximately 16 kilometers northwest of Mandalay.
At around 1:30 PM, my younger brother, Roy, who’s currently in Bangkok for a business trip, sent an alarming message to our family WhatsApp group: “OMG, earthquake in Bangkok!” He was on the 24th floor of a building attending a meeting when the room began to sway violently. Understandably, he was shaken by the experience.
Roy was demonstrating a piece of medical equipment to a colleague during a meeting, and his colleague wondered why Roy’s hands were shaking! Another female colleague felt dizzy, thinking that perhaps she had not eaten much during breakfast! When the trainer shouted ‘earthquake’, everyone laughed, thinking he was joking since Bangkok never had earthquakes before.
The tremors prompted widespread evacuations across the city. In the Chatuchak district, a high-rise building under construction collapsed, leading to a massive cloud of dust. Authorities are currently assessing the situation, and there are reports of individuals trapped under the rubble.
In Myanmar, the earthquake caused significant panic, with residents in cities like Yangon rushing out of buildings. Emergency response teams are surveying the affected areas for casualties and damage. Social media images from Mandalay depict collapsed structures and debris.
I hope that no lives are lost in this earthquake and that Roy, along with everyone else affected, remains safe. We are keeping a close eye on updates and praying for the well-being of all those impacted.
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