A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the magnitude scale has struck central Myanmar, leaving at least 144 people dead and 732 injured, according to military leader Min Aung Hlaing. The quake, which sent tremors across neighboring countries, has caused widespread destruction, with fears that the death toll could rise further as rescue teams struggle to reach affected areas.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located just 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing, a city in central Myanmar, at a depth of about 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremors were felt strongly in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with a population of 1.5 million, and in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where roads buckled and buildings suffered significant damage.

Breaking down the casualties, military authorities reported that 96 deaths occurred in Nay Pyi Taw, 30 in Mandalay, and 18 in Sagaing. The number of injured stands at 132 in Nay Pyi Taw and 300 in Sagaing, with assessments still ongoing in other regions. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to search for survivors, but communication lines have been disrupted, making it difficult to get a full picture of the devastation.

The earthquake’s impact was not confined to Myanmar. In Thailand, hundreds of miles away from the epicenter, an unfinished high-rise building in Bangkok collapsed, killing at least three people. Eighty-one construction workers remain missing in the rubble. Videos circulating on social media showed buildings swaying violently in Bangkok, with water sloshing out of rooftop swimming pools as the ground shook. Tremors were also felt in southwestern China, though no major damage has been reported there so far.

Challenges in Assessing the Damage

Getting accurate information from Myanmar has always been difficult due to strict military control over media and communications. Since the 2021 coup, the junta has heavily restricted internet access and foreign journalists, making independent reporting nearly impossible. Mobile networks in the affected areas have been unreliable since the quake, and with tens of thousands living without electricity, verifying casualty numbers remains a challenge.

A rescue worker in Mandalay told the BBC that the death toll could be “at least in the hundreds,” but stressed that the full extent of the disaster is still unclear. “Rescue efforts are ongoing, and we expect the numbers to rise,” the source said.

Why Was the Earthquake So Devastating?

Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates—massive sections of the Earth’s crust—shift suddenly after being stuck due to friction. When the pressure becomes too great, the plates jerk apart, releasing energy that causes the ground to shake. The strength of an earthquake is measured on the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw), which has replaced the older Richter scale.

A magnitude of 7.7, like this quake, is classified as a major earthquake capable of causing severe damage. Quakes of this strength can collapse buildings, rupture roads, and trigger landslides. By comparison, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which triggered a deadly tsunami, measured 9.1, while the 2011 Japan earthquake that caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster was a 9.0. The strongest earthquake ever recorded was a 9.5 in Chile in 1960.

What Happens Next?

With rescue operations still underway, the immediate focus is on finding survivors and providing medical aid to the injured. Myanmar’s military government has not yet issued a detailed emergency response plan, but international aid organizations are likely to face hurdles in delivering assistance due to the country’s political isolation.

As night falls, fears grow for those trapped under rubble, especially in remote areas where help may take longer to arrive. The coming hours will be critical in determining the final toll of this disaster. For now, Myanmar mourns its dead while bracing for the possibility of more bad news as the full scale of destruction becomes clear.