At least 26 people were killed and 43 remain missing after powerful earthquakes struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, triggering widespread destruction and rescue operations across the region. The 7.7-magnitude quake, centered in Myanmar's Sagaing Region, was followed 12 minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, according to the US Geological Survey. In Thailand, one person died and 43 others were trapped when a high-rise building under construction collapsed in Bangkok's Chatuchak district, Thai PBS reported. Authorities declared the city an "emergency zone" as a precaution. Myanmar bore the brunt of the fatalities. Eleven Media Group reported the collapse of a monastery in Taungoo city, killing five displaced children. Meanwhile, at least 20 people died during Friday prayers at Shwe Pho Shing Mosque in the Mandalay Region. "It collapsed while we were worshipping," said a rescue worker, who noted that multiple mosques had been affected and that people remained trapped under rubble. The historic Ava Bridge in Mandalay was also reported to have collapsed, and the Mandalay Palace sustained significant damage. In response, Myanmar's State Administration Council declared a state of emergency in the earthquake-affected areas, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, northeastern Shan State, the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, and Bago Region, according to state-run MRTV. The tremors disrupted mobile communications and damaged infrastructure across the region. A major hospital in Nay Pyi Taw was overwhelmed with casualties, while images on local media showed damaged buildings and cracked roads. In Bangkok, the Stock Exchange of Thailand temporarily halted trading due to the quake's impact. The shocks were also felt in neighboring countries, adding to concerns of regional instability. Rescue operations are ongoing in both countries, with officials warning that the death toll may rise. — Agencies
