A 7.7 magnitude earthquake shakes Myanmar, causing panic in Bangkok.
A strong earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28th. According to witnesses, the earthquake caused people to panic and flee buildings in Yangon and Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake measured 7.7 magnitude and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. Shortly afterward, a strong aftershock followed.
The epicenter was located approximately 17.2 km from the city of Mandalay. The city has a population of about 1.2 million, according to the USGS.
There is no immediate information from Myanmar regarding the extent of the damage.
A Myanmar fire department officer told Reuters: "We have started a search operation and are going around Yangon to check for casualties and damage. At the moment, we have no information."
Social media posts from Mandalay show several buildings collapsed and debris scattered in the streets. Major media outlets have not yet been able to verify these posts.
Witnesses in Yangon reported that many people fled buildings in Myanmar's largest city.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, witnesses reported that many people panicked and rushed into the streets, including many hotel guests who fled in their bathrobes and swimsuits.
