A strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake that is felt in Thailand and China strikes central Myanmar

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck central Myanmar, inflicting building damage and disturbances across China and Thailand.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reports that a strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck central Myanmar.

The agency said that the epicentre of the earthquake was 10km deep and 16km (10 miles) northwest of Sagaing.

Beyond Myanmar’s boundaries, the earthquakes reached Thailand and south-western China’s Yunnan province. Social media users are sharing videos of damaged buildings in Bangkok, where the city’s lack of earthquake-resistant engineering may have jeopardized the buildings’ structural integrity.

The capital, Naypyidaw, has roadways that have buckled, according to reports from Myanmar. Compared to Thailand, Myanmar experiences earthquakes more frequently. According to historical statistics, six powerful 7.0-mag earthquakes occurred close to the Sagaing Fault, which passes through the country’s center, between 1930 and 1956, according to AFP, which cited the USGS.

Thailand, which isn’t usually thought of as an earthquake-prone area, gets earthquakes mostly from Myanmar, its neighbor. Because big earthquakes are rare in Thailand, there is a risk of structural damage, especially in Bangkok where structures are not built to withstand intense seismic activity.