"Apocalypse Strikes Myanmar and Thailand: 7.7 and 6.4 Magnitude Earthquakes Devastate Both Nations

Myanmar is reeling after a massive earthquake struck the country on Friday, March 28th. The 7.7 magnitude tremor was felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and southwest China. Leaders of Myanmar's military government say more than 2,700 people have been killed and more than 4,500 injured. These figures are expected to rise. At least 21 people were killed in Thailand. A second earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 occurred 12 minutes later. The epicenter was 18 kilometers south of Sagaing. Aftershocks have continued since then. Most recently, a magnitude 5.1 tremor struck northwest of Mandalay on Sunday. A resident told BBC Burmese that it was the strongest tremor they had felt since March 28th. A state of emergency has been declared in the six hardest-hit districts of Sagaing, Mandalay, Magwe, Bago, Shan, and Nay Pi Ta. In Mandalay district, 1,591 homes were damaged and scores of people were stranded, with rescuers searching with bare hands, officials said on Saturday. Strong tremors were also felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and southwest China. Although the Thai capital Bangkok is more than 1,000 kilometers 621 miles from the epicenter of Friday's quake, an unfinished skyscraper in the city was destroyed in the quake. Videos also show rooftop pools in Bangkok overflowing over the sides of shaking buildings. The official death toll in Myanmar now stands at over 2,700, but is expected to continue to rise as rescuers reach more collapsed buildings. Most of the deaths so far have been in Mandalay. The military government said more than 4,500 people were injured and at least 441 people were country of Myanmar after the deadliest earthquake in years, with collapsed roads and rubble hampering relief efforts, according to the United Nations. Health workers on the ground, including in the central and northwestern Myanmar cities of Mandalay, Magwe, Naypyitaw and Sagaing, are scrambling to respond to the influx of casualties. Nyangshwe, Kalao and Pinlong townships in the south were among the hardest hit by the earthquake, OCHA said in a statement. Thousands of people are spending nights on the streets or in open spaces due to damage and destruction to homes or fear of further earthquakes. Disruptions to telecommunications and internet services are making aid delivery even more difficult. As of Friday, more than 1,200 houses, three school buildings, a hotel and several religious buildings had been damaged or destroyed, OCHA said, while hospitals, major bridges, universities and historical and public buildings were also damaged.