Thailand and Myanmar earthquake death toll rises as Bangkok declared disaster area with dozens trapped under skyscraper

Guardian:

Thailand and Myanmar earthquake death toll rises as Bangkok declared disaster area with dozens trapped under skyscraper

United States Geological Survey said the quake was shallow, at a depth of just 10km (six miles) with the epicentre near the central city of Mandalay

20.44 AEDT

Eight people killed after building collapse in Mandalay, eyewitness tells Guardian

Eight people have been killed and others are feared trapped after a construction building in Pyi Gyi Tagon township of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, collapsed at about 1 pm, an eyewitness told the Guardian.

“The whole of Mandalay city was affected by the earthquake. The rescue teams and hospitals are now overrun. We are managing with the resources we have in the neighbourhood,” an eye witness, who asked not to be named, said.

Two people, a middle aged man and an older woman, had died in the building collapse, he added.

Reporting by Esther J, a journalist from Myanmar who writes for the Guardian.


25m ago22.52 AEDT

'Everything was swaying - then I realised it was the building': Witness recalls escape from 28th floor of Bangkok building

Ex-Guardian reporter Elena Cresci was on the 28th floor of her building near Chatuchak Park in Bangkok, Thailand, when she felt the earthquake today.

In a voicenote to the Guardian live blog, she described her experience:


I was cooking some food and I went to get something. I thought I was really light-headed from not having eaten – everything was swaying – then I realised it was the building.

I ran, grabbing my bag with my wallet, phone and keys. Everyone was running out of the building. I ran down the stairs from the 28th floor and the whole building was shaking. You could see plaster falling down. People were shouting ‘hurry, hurry’ in Thai.

I don’t know how long it took for me to run down from the 28th floor but by the time I got to the bottom, it [the building] had stopped shaking. I could see the cracks in the wall and that was pretty scary. We crossed the road and looked up at the building not sure what was going to happen … people were pretty panicked.”


Speaking from a nearby cafe where she had taken shelter, Cresci said she had not yet gone back to her home. “I’m just building up the courage to [go back],” she said, adding that she would not feel comfortable sleeping there tonight.


France also said on Friday it stood ready to provide support after a powerful earthquake hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand, adding that its diplomatic premises in the Thai capital had been evacuated, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Earlier, European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU stood ready to help (see 11.22am GMT).

“We are ready to provide support as soon as the need has been expressed and we have evacuated our premises in Bangkok to guard against any form of risk,” said foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who was in Shanghai on Friday, referring to the French embassy, schools, and other buildings.Share

Updated at 22.33 AEDT

1h ago22.22 AEDT

EU 'ready' to provide support after earthquake rocks Myanmar and Thailand

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday the 27-country bloc stood ready to help after a strong, deadly earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand.

“Heartbreaking scenes from Myanmar and Thailand after the devastating earthquake. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” von der Leyen wrote on X.

She added:

Europe’s Copernicus satellites are already helping first responders. We are ready to provide more support.”Share

1h ago

22.08 AEDT

Thai rescuers are seeking to free 81 people still trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in the Thai capital Bangkok after a strong earthquake, a deputy prime minister said on Friday, reports Reuters.

Thai defence minister Phumtham Wechachai told reporters three people have been confirmed dead.Share