Myanmar 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strongly Felt in China and Thailand

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at noon on the 28th, and was strongly felt in the neighboring Chinese provinces of Yunnan, particularly in Kunming and Dali, as well as in Thailand's capital Bangkok, and cities like Chiang Mai.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 16 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of Shwebo, with a depth of 10 kilometers. The earthquake occurred at approximately 12:50 PM local time (2:20 PM Malaysian time).

Strong tremors were felt in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw and its largest city Yangon. Currently, Myanmar's official reports on damage caused by the earthquake have not been released.

However, media reports indicate that some buildings in Mandalay province have collapsed, and roads from Mandalay to Yangon have been damaged and broken.

China's National Tsunami Warning Center, based on preliminary earthquake parameters, assesses that the earthquake could trigger local tsunamis around the epicenter. However, since the epicenter is outside the Pacific range, it will not have an impact on China's coastal areas. The center will continue to monitor and analyze earthquake and tsunami tracking data.

●Reports of under-construction high-rise collapse

Tremors were felt throughout Thailand, with shakes in Bangkok lasting for several minutes, prompting residents to leave buildings and take shelter on the streets. Some metro and Skytrain services in Bangkok were suspended.

A resident of the popular northern tourist city Chiang Mai, Duangjai, told AFP, "I heard a noise and was sleeping inside the house at the time. I ran out of the building in pajamas, trying to get far away."

Thai Prime Minister Phetongtan said she had interrupted her visit to the southern island of Phuket due to the strong earthquake, where an "emergency meeting" was held.

On Thailand's social platform X, many citizens shared videos of the earthquake moments, including large swings of picture frames on hotel walls. Even shoppers in department stores were frightened and fled. There was also a report of a high-rise building under construction collapsing in Bangkok.