Quake-affected people sit on the ground in the open after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 29, 2025. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
YANGON/BANGKOK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 1,002 people were killed, 2,376 injured and 30 missing as of Saturday morning after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council reported.
Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Mandalay Province by helicopter on Saturday morning to inspect the severely affected area, according to Myanmar Radio and Television.
The devastation has been widespread, with Mandalay, Bago, Magway, northeastern Shan State, Sagaing, and Nay Pyi Taw among the hardest-hit regions. The Myanmar government has declared a national emergency.
Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said Saturday morning that 12 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 7.5, occurred on Friday following an earthquake at 12:51 p.m. local time.
The only highway linking Myanmar's Yangon in the south and central Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay was severely damaged, Xinhua reporters witnessed when heading to the most affected areas.
People have resorted to using the older Yangon-Mandalay road to arrive at the quake-hit areas and facilitate rescue efforts. Additionally, the collapse of buildings in Mandalay Airport and sections of the highway has further disrupted travel between Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar's two largest cities.
The devastating temblor also affected Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Friday announced a state of emergency in Bangkok.
As of Saturday morning, the quake has left nine people dead, nine injured and 101 others remain missing in the Thai capital, Bangkok. 14 provinces have reported damage following the earthquake, said the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Tremors were felt in Thailand's 57 provinces, particularly in Bangkok, prompting mass evacuations from office buildings, residential complexes, and convention centers as people gathered on the streets and in parks as temporary shelters.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said during a meeting for earthquake disaster updates and relief measures on Saturday that the earthquake situation has stabilized, with aftershock intensity gradually weakening.
In Laos and Vietnam, buildings above three stories experienced noticeable shaking, with residents in high-rise buildings feeling swaying indoors.
The United Nations on Friday allocated an emergency 5 million U.S. dollars for earthquake aid to Myanmar, where nearly 20 million people need assistance, including more than 3.5 million people displaced from their homes.
A 37-member rescue team from southwest China's Yunnan Province arrived early this morning at Yangon, Myanmar, to provide assistance in disaster relief and rescue efforts. ■
Quake-affected people sit on the ground in the open after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 29, 2025. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
This photo taken on March 29, 2025 shows a damaged building after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
Quake-affected people sit on the ground in the open after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 29, 2025. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
This photo taken on March 29, 2025 shows a damaged building after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
This photo taken on March 29, 2025 shows a damaged building after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
This photo taken on March 29, 2025 shows a damaged building after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
This photo taken on March 29, 2025 shows a damaged building after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
