Myanmar earthquake: At least 694 killed and 1,670 injured
The number of people killed in Myanmar following a powerful earthquake has risen to 694, and 1,670 others injured, according to the country’s military government.
The head of the military government has ordered a prompt rescue effort following the 7.7 magnitude quake.
It struck at around 12.50pm local time (6.20am UK time) on Friday at a shallow depth of six miles.
The quake’s epicentre was about 10 miles from the second city of Mandalay.
There were also aftershocks, with one measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude 12 minutes later.
Neighbouring Thailand was also affected, with eight people dead, eight injured and 79 missing.
Buildings in five of Myanmar’s cities and towns collapsed, along with a railway bridge and a road bridge on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, state media reported.
Recalling the moment they left their home in Mandalay, one resident said they “ran out of the house as everything started shaking”.
They added that they “witnessed a five-storey building collapse in front of [their] eyes”.
“Everyone in my town is out on the road and no one dares to go back inside buildings.”
The natural disaster – the largest earthquake in this region in nearly 80 years – comes as the country is in the grip of a civil war.
Search efforts continued on Saturday morning, as Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said more people were believed to be alive in the wreckage.
Most of the city’s metro and light rail resumed normal operation on Saturday morning, according to their operators.
Major General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the military government, told MRTV that blood was in high demand in earthquake-hit areas, as he urged blood donors to contact hospitals as soon as possible.
United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said UN staff were working to gather information on the number of people impacted by the earthquake and the scope of the humanitarian needs.
