Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Surges Over 1,000 as Thai Rescue Continues

Myanmar said the death toll from Friday’s powerful earthquake has risen to more than 1,000, while rescuers in neighboring Thailand are still searching for dozens of people missing from a collapsed high-rise building in Bangkok.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, its biggest in a century, also injured more than 2,000 people while 68 are missing, according to the country’s State Administration Council information team.

Authorities in Bangkok said 10 people were killed, 16 were injured and about 101 are missing at three building sites in Bangkok, including the 30-story building that was under construction. At the site of the high-rise alone, more than 80 people remained trapped, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Saturday.

The government has declared the quake a level 3 disaster, categorized as major, and is coordinating rescue and relief operations accordingly, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

There were 77 aftershocks as of 6 a.m. Bangkok, according to Thai Meteorological Department, though none were strongly felt in Thailand.

Bangkok city authorities have also ordered safety audit of public and government buildings, Chadchart said. A group of civil engineers will inspect the buildings with authorities and categorize damages into three groups based on the severity.

The government will provide assistance and financial relief to those affected, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said after a meeting on Saturday. The situation is now “safe” and those residing in tall buildings should seek the advice of their building management about infrastructure safety, she said.

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