BREAKING: Over 1,000 Killed in Myanmar Earthquake, Rescue Efforts Ongoing

More than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, with tremors felt in neighboring countries.

The epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where most fatalities have been reported. Emergency crews are racing to find survivors under collapsed buildings, with rescue workers describing desperate efforts to dig out victims with their bare hands.

“We are digging out people with our bare hands,” a rescue team told the BBC from Mandalay, near the quake’s epicenter.

In Thailand, authorities are conducting rescue operations at an unfinished high-rise in Bangkok that collapsed due to the quake. At least six people have been confirmed dead, and around 100 construction workers remain unaccounted for, according to local officials.

Myanmar’s ruling junta has issued a rare request for international assistance, despite being heavily sanctioned by Western nations in recent years. However, the country’s military control and ongoing civil conflict have made it difficult to gather accurate information about the scale of the disaster.

Rescue efforts continue as emergency teams struggle to reach those still trapped under rubble in both Myanmar and Thailand.