A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck along the China-Myanmar border in the early morning hours, jolting millions awake and leaving widespread destruction across three countries. The quake, among the strongest the region has experienced in years, has claimed dozens of lives, injured hundreds, and left many more missing as rescue efforts intensify.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers, amplifying its force. Tremors rippled across southern China, northern Thailand, and much of Myanmar, toppling buildings and sending people rushing into the streets. Survivors described the ground shaking so violently that it was impossible to stand.
In Yunnan Province, frightened residents fled barefoot into the night, watching as walls cracked and roofs gave way. In Myanmar’s Shan State, entire villages were reduced to rubble, while northern Thai cities such as Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai saw historic temples and older buildings collapse.
Scenes from across the region show families huddled together in open fields, clutching children and elderly relatives, waiting anxiously as aftershocks continued. Streets once filled with everyday life were instead covered in debris, broken glass, and dust. Online videos captured swaying high-rises, collapsing storefronts, and terrified crowds scrambling to safety.
Officials in China and Myanmar have confirmed dozens of fatalities, though that number is expected to rise. Hospitals are overflowing with patients suffering from crush injuries, fractures, and trauma, while rescuers work tirelessly to pull survivors from collapsed structures. In rural areas closest to the epicenter, blocked roads, landslides, and downed communication lines are making relief efforts dangerously slow.
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