A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, with tremors felt in Bangkok. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Videos circulating on social media show buildings shaking, and an under-construction structure collapsing into dust, sending clouds of debris into the air.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on Friday that she had cut short an official visit to Phuket to hold an “urgent meeting” in response to the earthquake, according to a post on X.
Tremors were also felt in China’s southwest Yunnan province, where Beijing’s quake agency reported the magnitude at 7.9, says AFP.
Myanmar, where the quake originated, is prone to seismic activity. According to the USGS, six strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher struck the country between 1930 and 1956, primarily along the Sagaing Fault, which runs north to south through central Myanmar.