Death toll from Thailand quake rises to 17

BANGKOK: Thailand on Sunday confirmed that the death toll has reached 17 and 39 injured, with 77 people missing after a powerful earthquake hit the neighbouring Myanmar, sending strong tremors across Thailand.

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A health official said that at least 10 persons were killed after the State Audit Office (SAO) building collapsed, nine died at the site, while one succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the country's Earthquake Observation Division reported that as of Sunday, the country witnessed 146 aftershocks.

The division also reported a 5.3-magnitude earthquake, 56 kilometres deep in northern Sumatra, 761 kilometres southwest of Phuket, at 9.56 am on Sunday, Thailand time.

Reports suggest the most noteworthy loss has been the collapse of the under-construction building for the State Audit Office.