A strong earthquake struck central Myanmar earlier today (Friday, March 28), with tremors felt across Thailand and other parts of the region.

The powerful earthquake buckled roads in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw, damaged buildings and forced people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand, according to news agencies. 

The 7.7-magnitude tremor hit north-west of the city of Sagaing at a shallow depth, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The epicentre of the quake was about 17.2km from the city of Mandalay.

A 6.4-magnitude aftershock hit the same area minutes later.

Strong tremors extended into Thailand and Yunnan in south-west China, with videos on social media showing damage to buildings in Bangkok.

Myanmar has been in political turmoil since a military junta seized power in a 2021 coup, making getting information on the ground challenging. 

Myanmese news website The Irrawaddy reported that the 91-year-old Ava Bridge, also known as the Old Sagaing Bridge, which spanned the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay and Sagaing regions and was built by the British during the colonial period, had collapsed.

Outside of Myanmar, Bangkok in Thailand has been declared an “emergency zone” after the collapse of high-rise buildings and construction sites.

“We felt tremors 1,000 feet up in the mountains”

Singaporean Eugene Wee, executive director of Radion International, who is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand told Salt&Light that his team was doing missions training at their field office in Phetchabun, 450km from the their headquarters in Chiang Mai, when the earthquake struck.

“The team started to feel the room shaking. We knew it was an earthquake but for the field office, which is 1,000 feet up in the mountains to feel the tremors, it meant that the earthquake had to be very severe.

“We have felt tremors in Chiang Mai before, but not in the village,” said Eugene.

Radion International is a Christian non-profit organisation that provides assistance to vulnerable communities. 

Their Chiang Mai child rescue centre and staff – more than 30 people – had to be evacuated.

In better days: Eugene Wee with children from Radion’s StreetKIDS! programme

“It shook pretty badly for about five to eight minutes. It was probably the strongest (tremors) they have felt and there was no warning. We are now expecting aftershocks,” he said.

“Pray for lives to be preserved.”

Radion International will continue to run an early intervention camp with more than 100 kids and volunteers in Phetchabun.

“Yes, we are continuing ministry for these kids and adults. Reaching lives continues,” said Eugene.

Radion’s field office, which felt the quake just hours ago, is continuing with outreaches to the local children. Photo courtesy of Eugene Wee, taken evening of Friday, March 28.

Santiphap Viriyotha from Stronger Together Thailand, an organisation located in Chiang Mai that partners local churches in disability ministry, said many buildings and houses there were damaged.

“Some high buildings in Bangkok collapsed and some people were still in the building when it collapsed. The government is asking us to pay attention to future warnings and avoid being in high buildings. There is a chance of multiple aftershocks,” he said.

“We rarely have an earthquake here in Thailand. This earthquake is one of the strongest earthquake we have ever experienced in decades. Everyone here in Chiang Mai could feel it. I could see the light poles and trees shaking,” he added. Fortunately, his organisation, church and house were not damaged. 

He hopes that believers can especially pray for those who have gone missing from buildings that have collapsed.

“Please pray for the people in Myanmar”

Deeram Khong, 38, who works with a Christian non-profit organisation in Yangon, said he was out shopping with his wife when they felt the building shake. 

“After the first wave came, there was a second and third wave. It was scary and we were dizzy,” said Deeram. The building did not collapse. 

“We saw people streaming out of buildings but thankfully there don’t seem to be much injury or damage here. But I can’t reach my church friends in Mandalay as communication lines have been hit. Please pray for them.”

Naw Aung Lahtaw, a Myanmar national with Development Associates International (DAI) which is involved in digital evangelism and church planting experienced the earthquake in Chiang Mai where he is based.

“Yes, I felt the earthquake. It started as a light tremor, then grew stronger. The shaking lasted for several seconds, and some objects in my room moved slightly. It was an unsettling experience,” he told Salt&Light, adding that where he was, there has been no significant damage to the buildings housing the ministry.

“One of the major shopping malls in Chiang Mai, Central Festival, had to be evacuated, and many shoppers were on the streets. Schools also had to be evacuated, for the safety of the students and teachers.

“Please pray for people who were affected by the earthquake, especially in Myanmar. Please also pray for Christians and missionaries that they can minister to people who are experiencing loss, grief, anxiety, fear, and pain.”

According to Myanmar Baptist Convention and Myanmar Council of Churches, phone lines are still down in many places. 

This is a developing story.

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