MORE than 70 people have been killed and 100 injured after a strong earthquake struck northeastern Myanmar near its border with Thailand, officials said, adding, the toll may rise.
Myanmar state radio announced on Friday that 74 people had been killed and 111 injured in the quake, but was updating the total frequently.
It said that 390 houses, 14 Buddhist monasteries and nine government buildings were damaged, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, jolted 16 kilometres (km) north northwest (NNW) of Sagaing, Myanmar, earlier in the day, the US Geological Survey said.
The epicentre, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 22.01 degrees north latitude and 95.92 degrees east longitude.
The quake caused "considerable damage" to some buildings, including the walled fort of Mandalay Palace.
In the latest development, multiple structures in Mandalay Region suffered collapses, while several roads linking Mandalay and Yangon were damaged or blocked, disrupting transportation.
Xinhua reporters in Yangon reported that the tremors were strongly felt in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw and the largest city of Yangon. Some schools and office buildings in Nay Pyi Taw were also reported to have crumbled.
The Myanmar Fire Service Department said that a rescue operation has been conducted in response to the earthquake.
Following the earthquake, Xinhua reporters in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Bangkok, capital of Thailand, and Hanoi, capital of Vietnam reported that strong tremors were felt in those areas as well.
A 30-story building under construction collapsed in the Thai capital, resulting in one death and leaving 43 others missing.
In Vientiane, buildings above three stories experienced noticeable shaking, with residents in high-rise buildings feeling intense swaying indoors.
In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, residents living in high-rise buildings also experienced noticeable shaking while at home. - March 28, 2028
