A huge 7.7 earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday, destroying buildings there and capturing vast cities in Southeast Asia in Bangkok, neighbouring Thailand, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The agency was hit by an earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, around 12:50 pm local time. After 12 minutes, a magnitude 6.4 aftershock was recorded at a nearby location.
The amplitude of 7.7 is considered strong. At about six miles deep, the earthquake is relatively shallow, which can cause violent tremors.
People were taken to major hospitals after the tremor in Mandalay. Images from that city posted on social media showed a bridge hitting a river. Others show damaged buildings.
Detailed information on the extent of damage and casualties in Myanmar is not available immediately. The country was destroyed by a civil war that began four years ago after the military seized power in a coup.
Video from Bangkok shows people on the streets and in buildings (such as shopping malls).
In central Bangkok, the streets are filled with people who are afraid of aftershocks or are not allowed to return to the buildings. Traffic is in virtual stagnation.
Video uploaded to social media and verified by the New York Times shows 30-storey skyscrapers being built in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok. These videos show construction workers and passers-by running for safety, while other videos taken from the highway show huge dust and debris engulfing the surrounding area. Thai media reported that the building is the auditor-general's new office.
Western Myanmar in Bangladesh also felt shocked, including its capital Dhaka, but there were no reports of damage immediately. State-run news media Vnexpress reported that the earthquake also shocked Vietnam's buildings, including Hanoi, the capital and Ho Chi Minh City.
Saif Hasnat From Dhaka, Bangladesh and Richard C. Paddock In Bangkok.
