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A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction and loss.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand and said India stands ready to offer all possible assistance to the two countries.
The earthquake rocked many parts of Thailand including its capital Bangkok, the venue for next week's summit of BIMSTEC regional grouping that is scheduled to be attended by Modi among other leaders.
In Myanmar, which bore the brunt of the damage, at least 144 people perished, with 730 injured, while in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, 10 died as a high-rise under construction collapsed.
The quake’s epicentre was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, followed by a significant 6.4 magnitude aftershock. The full scope of casualties and damage remains uncertain, especially in Myanmar, a nation gripped by poverty and civil war, where information is scarce.
In Myanmar, the disaster toppled buildings, bridges, and a prominent monastery in Mandalay.
Images from Naypyidaw, the capital, captured rescue teams sifting through rubble to save trapped civil servants. Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar’s military regime, warned that the death toll would likely climb.
Blood shortages plagued the hardest-hit regions, prompting an unusual openness to foreign aid from a government historically reluctant to accept help.
The United Nations pledged $5 million for initial relief, but damaged infrastructure -- cracked roads, a fallen bridge, and a burst dam -- raised doubts about reaching isolated areas already reeling from conflict.
"Concerned by the situation in the wake of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Praying for the safety and wellbeing of everyone," Modi said on X.
"India stands ready to offer all possible assistance. In this regard, asked our authorities to be on standby. Also asked the MEA to remain in touch with the Governments of Myanmar and Thailand," he said.
It is learnt that India is preparing to send assistance to the two countries.
Myanmar sits on an active seismic zone, though such powerful quakes rarely strike populated centres.
The US Geological Survey projected a potential death toll exceeding 1,000. State media reported collapsed buildings in five cities and towns, including two key bridges -- one linking Mandalay to a vital highway.
Online videos showed monks filming the Ma Soe Yane monastery in Mandalay as it crumbled, while flooding from a burst dam worsened conditions in low-lying areas. In Yangon, residents fled homes, and in Naypyidaw, rescuers aided the injured amid piles of debris.
The quake deepened Myanmar’s ongoing crisis. Since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in 2021, civil war has displaced over 3 million and left nearly 20 million in need, per UN estimates. Aid delivery remains perilous as fighting restricts access to vast swathes of the country.
“This disaster will devastate an already struggling population,” Julie Mehigan of Christian Aid, was quoted as saying, highlighting the compounded impact of conflict and natural calamity.
In Thailand, a 33-story construction site near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market collapsed in a dust cloud, killing 10, injuring 16, and leaving 101 missing across three sites. Video footage captured panicked onlookers fleeing as sirens echoed through the city. Rescuers swarmed the wreckage, where twisted steel and concrete loomed overhead, rushing survivors to safety.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit called it a “great tragedy” but held hope for survivors. Bangkok’s transit systems halted, stranding residents in a metropolis of over 17 million.
Though earthquakes occur in the region, they seldom rattle Bangkok with such force.
The tremor’s effects rippled into China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, with injuries and damage reported in Ruili near the Myanmar border. Videos showed debris-strewn streets and stretchers in use, while in Mangshi, 100 km away, residents struggled to stand amid intense shaking.
As Myanmar and Thailand grapple with the aftermath, the quake underscores the fragility of regions already burdened by instability and inadequate infrastructure. Relief efforts face daunting hurdles, from Myanmar’s war-torn landscape to Bangkok’s urban chaos, with the true toll still unfolding.
In a post on X, the Indian embassy in Thailand said there were no reports of any untoward incident involving any Indian citizen.
"After powerful earthquake tremors recorded in Bangkok and in other parts of Thailand, the embassy is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Thai authorities," it said.
"So far, no untoward incident involving any Indian citizen has been reported," it added.
Indian nationals in Thailand were advised to contact the emergency number +66 618819218 in case of any emergency.
"All members of the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and Consulate in Chiang Mai are safe," the embassy added.
The BIMSTEC summit is taking place in Bangkok on April 4.
Besides India and Thailand, the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan.
At the Bangkok summit, the BIMSTEC leaders are expected to deliberate on ways and means to infuse greater momentum in cooperation among the member nations.