A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck early Saturday morning, shaking parts of Myanmar (formerly Burma) and neighboring Thailand. The quake sent people fleeing their homes in panic and raised concerns about potential aftershocks and tsunamis.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicenter was in a remote mountainous region of eastern Myanmar, close to the Thai border, at a shallow depth of around 6 miles (10 kilometers)—a factor that typically increases the intensity of shaking and potential damage.
The tremor was strongly felt in major cities across the region, including Yangon, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. In all three cities, frightened residents poured into the streets as buildings swayed, bracing for possible aftershocks. Emergency services are on high alert, and local authorities have begun assessing damage and coordinating response efforts.
