Dozens of people are believed to be deceased after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar, destroying infrastructure and buildings.
Reports suggest that at least 144 people were killed in Myanmar. “The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing announced.
A second earthquake with a 6.4 magnitude hit the area minutes later.
“Many injured people have been arriving, I haven’t seen anything like this before,” a doctor told AFP. “We are trying to handle the situation. I’m so exhausted.”
Security officials with a hospital further told the outlet that “hundreds of injured people are arriving,” adding that the “emergency building here also collapsed.”
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), deaths could range between 1,000 to as many as 10,000, the New York Post reported. “High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response,” the USGS said.
Scottish tourist Fraser Morton said the earthquake brought “screaming and a lot of panic.”
“I just started walking calmly at first but then the building started really moving, yeah, a lot of screaming, a lot of panic, people running the wrong way down the escalators, lots of banging and crashing inside the mall,” Morton said, adding, “I got outside and then looked up at the building and the whole building was moving, dust and debris, it was pretty intense. Lots of chaos.”
Leaders of international agencies said they are working on relief efforts to support the region.
This is a developing story.
