Strong Earthquake Rocks Bangkok, Leading to Evacuations from Buildings

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Bangkok on Friday, causing building sways and prompting evacuations. With an epicenter near Myanmar, the quake occurred at a shallow depth and did not result in immediate damages or casualties. Residents responded by evacuating high-rise buildings as they sought safety in the streets.

On Friday, a strong earthquake measured at 7.7 magnitude struck Bangkok, Thailand, causing significant swaying of buildings within the city. According to preliminary reports from the U.S. Geological Survey and Germany’s GFZ center for geosciences, the earthquake’s epicenter was determined to be in central Myanmar, approximately 50 kilometers east of Monywa, and occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

As the quake hit around 1:30 p.m., alarms sounded throughout the greater Bangkok area, which houses over 17 million residents, many of whom reside in high-rise apartments. Consequently, startled individuals quickly evacuated from their buildings, descending staircases in condominiums and hotels in central Bangkok, where they sought refuge in the shade from the intense midday sun.

Fortunately, there were no immediate reports indicating any damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, the tremor was powerful enough to cause water to slosh out of swimming pools situated in high-rise buildings. Although the quake’s seismic effects were felt in Bangkok, there were no initial reports on its impact in Myanmar, which is currently enduring a civil conflict.

The earthquake that struck Bangkok was significant, prompting widespread evacuations due to the strong tremors felt throughout high-rise structures. As residents sought safety from the swaying buildings during the daytime quake, the region experienced no immediate reports of injuries or damage, although authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. The event highlights the challenges faced in populated urban areas during seismic occurrences.

Original Source: www.newsday.com