A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, collapsing buildings and leading to rising casualty reports in both countries.
The big picture: The epicenter of the quake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, and was followed by several aftershocks, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
- The quake shook buildings more than 600 miles away in the Thai capital of Bangkok.
- Myanmar’s military junta has declared a state of emergency in six regions of the country, per AP.
State of play: The total number of casualties remains unclear, as reports trickle in from both countries.
- Building collapses — of a mosque and hotel — have killed eight people in Myanmar, while trapping others beneath the rubble, Reuters reported.
- Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said that the collapse of a building site killed three people and left 90 missing, per AP.
In photos:
Thai rescue workers at a construction building collapse site in Bangkok on March 28. Photo: Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images
Damage is seen to part of the emergency department of a hospital in Naypyidaw, Myanmar on March 28. Photo: Sebastien Berger/AFP via Getty Images
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