Hundreds feared dead and dozens missing as massive earthquake fh hits eee

More than 140 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar with the tremors powerful enough to collapse buildings hundreds of miles away in Bangkok.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR ALEX CROFT

There are fears that hundreds more could have died, with the death toll expected to climb once the full extent of the damage in central Myanmar comes to light, with more than 700 people injured having already been reported.

In neighbouring Thailand, rescue teams were working through the night in an attempt to find the dozens of workers trapped after a partially constructed skyscraper collapsed.

Much of the destruction took place in Mandalay, which is Myanmar’s second-largest city and lies about 17 km (10 miles) from the quake epicentre. The quake struck at a depth of 10km (six miles), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), whose models predicted that the final death toll could top 1,000. The main quake was followed by a powerful aftershock and several more moderate ones.

Mandalay, with a population of about 1.5 million, is Myanmar’s ancient royal capital and the centre of its Buddhist heartland. Buildings, bridges and roads were wrecked. State television quoted the ruling military junta as saying that at least 144 people had been killed in Myanmar and 732 injured.

“The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” the head of Myanmar’s military government, Gen Min Aung Hlaing said, with the junta calling for international help to deal with the disaster.

Speaking at the White House yesterday, President Donald Trump said he had spoken with officials in Myanmar and that his administration would be providing some form of assistance. “We’re going to be helping,” he told reporters. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said USAID disaster experts were ready to help, including with items such as food and potable water.

Meanwhile the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said the United Nations was mobilising in southeast Asia to help those in need.