Devastating 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Southeast Asia, Toppling Skyscrapers and Claiming Lives
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction and rising casualties across multiple countries. The massive tremor, with its epicenter in Mandalay, Myanmar, sent shockwaves as far as Thailand, causing widespread devastation.
Even Bangkok, nearly 600 miles away, felt the quake’s force, with violent shaking reported throughout the city. In a shocking scene, a skyscraper under construction collapsed entirely, underscoring the sheer intensity of the disaster.
As rescue efforts intensify and the full scale of the catastrophe unfolds, authorities fear the death toll may continue to rise.
Death Toll Surges as Rescue Efforts Continue in Myanmar and Thailand
Casualties are expected to climb as search and rescue teams work tirelessly to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings in Myanmar and Thailand, officials reported.
In Myanmar, the devastation is staggering—at least 1,002 people have been confirmed dead, according to state-run MRTV, with 2,376 others injured and 30 still missing.
In Bangkok, the collapse of a high-rise under construction claimed the lives of at least nine people, with another nine injured. Authorities fear the toll could rise further, as more than 101 workers remain unaccounted for, according to the Royal Thai Police.
Myanmar Resistance Declares Partial Ceasefire
In response to the disaster, Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG)—the opposition body formed after the 2021 military coup—has declared a two-week pause in offensive military operations in quake-affected areas starting March 30.
However, Myanmar’s ruling military government has yet to issue a similar ceasefire, raising questions about how the conflict will unfold amid the crisis.
American Tourists Recall Terrifying Experience
For Garret Briere and his wife, a dream vacation to Thailand turned into a nightmare. Speaking with Family Us News, the couple from Washington state described the horrifying moment they saw a 34-story building across the street implode and collapse while they were inside a nearby mall.
“We never could have imagined something like this,” Briere said.
With search efforts ongoing and aftershocks still a concern, Southeast Asia is reeling from one of its most devastating earthquakes in recent history.
Survivors Describe Chaos as Death Toll Rises in Myanmar and Thailand
“I grabbed my wife’s hand and said, ‘Don’t let go.'”
That was the terrifying moment for Garret Briere and his wife, who were inside a Bangkok mall when Friday’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck.
“The building started shaking, and we ran,” Briere told Family Us News. “Immediately, we were covered in dust and debris, and we couldn’t see. There were thousands of people in a panic.”
In just seconds, the 34-story high-rise across the street collapsed, leaving behind a seven-story pile of rubble—one of the many devastating impacts of the quake.
Death Toll Surges as Search Efforts Continue
Authorities report the disaster’s toll continues to climb:
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Myanmar: At least 1,002 dead, 2,376 injured, and 30 missing, according to state-run MRTV.
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Thailand: Nine confirmed dead, nine injured, and 101 people still unaccounted for, per the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
The quake and its aftershocks damaged 13 Thai provinces, including Bangkok, where a 30-story building under construction crumbled as the tremors rocked the city.
With search-and-rescue efforts still underway, the region is grappling with one of its worst disasters in recent history.
Rescuers Detect Signs of Life as Death Toll Climbs in Myanmar and Thailand
Search-and-rescue teams are racing against time in Thailand, where 15 signs of life have been detected beneath the rubble of a collapsed building, according to Thailand’s National Institute of Emergency Medicine. Efforts continue as crews work tirelessly to locate survivors.
U.S. Expresses Readiness to Assist but Has Yet to Intervene
Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the U.S. response to the crisis, stating that while the country stands ready to assist, it has not yet actively deployed aid.
“My prayers go out to the people of Burma and Thailand impacted by the earthquake,” Rubio posted on social media. “We’ve been in contact with these countries and, as @POTUS said, stand ready to provide assistance.”
Rubio also confirmed that all State Department personnel in the affected regions are safe. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar has suspended nonemergency consular services, though the U.S. mission in Thailand remains fully operational.
State Department Weighs Disaster Response
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that the U.S. has a team of disaster experts on standby, commonly referred to as DART teams, who are equipped to provide emergency aid such as food and clean drinking water.
“The United States is evaluating the need for assistance based on requests and dynamic reporting,” Bruce stated, signaling that the response could shift as the situation unfolds.
With rescue operations still underway and aftershocks continuing, the full scope of the disaster remains uncertain.
U.S. Still on Standby as State Department Awaits Formal Aid Request
Despite former President Donald Trump’s statement that the U.S. would assist in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake, State Department officials clarified that no aid has been deployed yet.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that the U.S. is monitoring the situation but awaiting formal requests from affected countries.
“What I can tell you is that we wait for formal requests,” Bruce said. “We are ready. Obviously, we are watching what is transpiring.”
She also reassured that ongoing funding changes and USAID restructuring have not impacted the U.S. government’s ability to provide disaster relief when needed.
American Traveler Stranded in Bangkok Describes City in Chaos
For Sid Simone, a Michigan native in Bangkok filming a documentary on vegan food, the earthquake turned a routine subway ride into a frightening ordeal.
Her train suddenly stopped, and as the city’s transportation system ground to a halt, she turned to social media for answers.
“I saw ‘earthquake in Bangkok,’ and at that point, I knew the entire city was going to start to shut down,” Simone told ABC Grand Rapids affiliate WZZM.
Struggling to get home for five hours, she first tried taking a taxi, but with traffic at a standstill and the car running low on gas, she was forced to abandon it—left to walk along a highway with countless others.
“It’s heartbreaking because while I’m just trying to get home, others are fighting to reach loved ones trapped under rubble,” she said.
Even more chilling—Simone’s apartment complex is just down the street from the collapsed high-rise.
“I was so blessed not to be there today,” she said. “I could have been shopping in that area.”
Trump: ‘We’re Going to Be Helping’ After Myanmar Earthquake
During a White House press event, former President Donald Trump addressed the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, stating that the U.S. intends to assist in relief efforts.
“We’re going to be helping,” Trump said. “It’s terrible what’s happened. We’ve already spoken with the country.”
However, he did not provide specifics on how or when the U.S. would offer foreign aid. As of now, the State Department has confirmed that while the U.S. is prepared to respond, it is still awaiting a formal request for assistance.
With rescue operations ongoing and the death toll rising, the global response to the disaster remains in flux.
State Department: ‘No Known U.S. Casualties’ in Myanmar Earthquake
The U.S. State Department has stated that, as of now, there are no reports of American citizens among the casualties of the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand.
“We are not aware of any U.S. citizens injured or killed at this time,” a State Department official confirmed.
The department added that it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with local authorities.
In an official statement, the State Department also expressed sympathy for those affected:
“We extend our deepest condolences to all impacted in Burma and Thailand by the earthquake that struck near Mandalay earlier this morning.”
As search-and-rescue efforts continue, officials warn that the death toll may still rise.
