While half of the world was sleeping, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, has unleashed chaos and destruction across Myanmar and neighboring Thailand.
See the video below.
The response efforts face significant challenges with communication lines down and power outages rampant.
The disaster, which centered near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, has devastated an already war-torn nation now desperately seeking international aid despite years of isolationist policies.
A couple of hours ago, a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar, with tremors felt across Thailand, parts of China, and other neighboring countries.
Myanmar’s military junta, which has ruled with an iron fist since a 2021 coup, declared a state of emergency in six regions, including the capital Naypyitaw and Mandalay, where critical infrastructure has been severely damaged.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake’s shallow depth of just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) magnified its destructive power.
A 6.4 magnitude aftershock followed the initial quake, causing further damage to already weakened structures and hampering rescue efforts in areas where buildings had collapsed.
This devastating earthquake exceeded the power of many historic American disasters, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California.
While liberal climate alarmists will likely try to connect this to global warming, the truth is that these are natural disasters that have occurred throughout human history and demonstrate why resilient infrastructure matters more than wasteful climate programs.
In Thailand, the earthquake triggered widespread evacuations and panic in Bangkok, where a high-rise building under construction collapsed, killing at least three people.
Approximately 320 construction workers were on site during the collapse, with 70 people missing and 20 trapped in an elevator shaft, highlighting the need for stricter building codes and safety regulations.
Thailand’s Prime Minister promptly called an emergency meeting to assess the earthquake’s impact and coordinate rescue efforts.
The Royal Thai Police assisted with evacuations, while public transportation systems, including BTS and MRT, halted services to prevent further casualties.
In Myanmar, the ongoing civil war between the military junta and opposition forces has severely hampered humanitarian efforts.
The collapsed bridge in the Sagaing region and the damaged former royal palace in Mandalay testify to the breakdown of infrastructure under military rule.
Communication and electricity outages have further complicated the disaster response.
Myanmar’s military leadership has called for international humanitarian aid in a rare display of vulnerability.
This unusual plea comes after years of isolating the country from Western influence and aligning with China, demonstrating how natural disasters can force even the most authoritarian regimes to acknowledge their limitations.
The earthquake’s effects extended into China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, causing damage and injuries in the border city of Ruili.
Chinese authorities have mobilized emergency response teams to aid their citizens while carefully monitoring the situation along their border with Myanmar.
As rescue efforts continue, this devastating earthquake serves as a stark reminder of how vulnerable developing nations remain to natural disasters.
The stark difference in preparedness between countries like Thailand and Myanmar highlights the importance of economic freedom, good governance, and strong infrastructure.
