A Powerful Earthquake Devastated Myanmar

Briefing|A Powerful Earthquake Devastated Myanmar

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar today and wrought destruction across a vast expanse of Southeast Asia. The quake — one of the three largest to hit the region in a century — gouged open roads, toppled century-old religious monuments and destroyed many multistory buildings.

The U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks seismic activity, estimated that the death toll was likely to surpass 10,000 people, and that there was a possibility of a much higher toll. A preliminary count from Myanmar’s military government said that at least 144 people had been killed and 732 injured in just three cities. That did not include Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, which is just 10 miles from the epicenter.

Photos and videos from the country showed stunning scenes of destruction. A giant metal bridge near Mandalay partially collapsed into the river. Monks cried out as a monastery building toppled over. And patients at Mandalay General Hospital lied on the concrete in the 100-degree heat.

The quake was strong enough to level a 33-story building that was under construction more than 600 miles away in Bangkok, in neighboring Thailand. At least eight people died there, the authorities said. Here’s a map of the affected area.

The full extent of the devastation was hard to assess in a country that has largely been isolated from the rest of the world. Electricity and communication lines were down. Myanmar’s ruling junta, which is under heavy U.S. sanctions, made an extraordinary plea for international assistance. President Trump promised that the U.S. would help, and the U.N. set aside initial relief funds.