Tens of thousands feared dead as Myanmar earthquake could see worst quake death toll ever
Thailand and Myanmar were left shaken after a huge earthquake caused terror and destruction with at least 144 people confirmed dead and 732 hurt after the 7.7 magnitude quake
Tens of thousands of people are feared dead after a huge earthquake rocked Thailand and Myanmar.
Officials fear it could be the worst quake death toll ever.
The US Geological Survey warned that more than 10,000 people are “likely” to have perished in the disaster.
Thousands more are feared to be buried alive under hundreds of collapsed buildings in the region, with rescuers in a race against time to dig them out. At least 144 people were confirmed dead and 732 hurt after the 7.7 magnitude quake near Mandalay in Myanmar – formerly Burma.
It also rocked the Thai capital Bangkok, hundreds of miles away. Nine people were confirmed dead after a tower block still being built collapsed. Others were trapped in the rubble. Police chief Worapat Sukthai said: “I heard people calling for help, saying ‘help me’. I fear many lives have been lost.”
He added: “We have never experienced an earthquake with such a devastating impact before.” It is the strongest to hit Thailand since the 1839 Ava Earthquake.
Chelsea King, a Brit living in Bangkok, said: “Many of these buildings are condos or hotels with rooftop pools, and water was cascading down like waterfalls due to the force of the tremors. The street was chaotic, with people running out of buildings, carrying pets and children, shouting in panic. I was in shock, unable to process what I was seeing – it felt like something out of a disaster film.”
Tourist Kelly Rhodes fled down 24 flights of stairs when the earthquake rocked her hotel.
She said: “We are now trying to organise flights out but it’s chaos. We can’t get out of the city. Traffic is at a standstill – total gridlock.”
In neighbouring Myanmar the Ma Soe Yane monastery collapsed, damaging the neighbouring former royal palace.
In Pyinmanar, near the capital city Naypyidaw, a rescue worker said at least 60 bodies were pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building.
Officials at a major hospital in Naypyidaw declared it a “mass casualty area”.
One doctor said: “I haven’t seen (something) like this before. We are trying to handle the situation. I’m so exhausted now.”