Just over 24 hours ago, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 hit Myanmar, causing widespread devastation that is still being felt today.

Here are the latest developments:

The official death toll stands at 1,002, according to Myanmar’s junta government, with 2,376 people injured.

Rescue workers are racing against time to save survivors buried under collapsed buildings after the quake struck Myanmar’s second-largest city yesterday afternoon.

There are similar scenes in Bangkok, where officials say at least 15 people are still alive underneath metres of rubble after an unfinished high-rise collapsed in Chatuhak.

Air strikes and drone attacks have continued in Myanmar, the People’s Defense Force says. The country been under military rule since a coup in 2021.

Global support and aid has also been arriving into Myanmar and Thailand, from neighbouring countries and overseas.


Family members of the missing gather at Bangkok building site

Officials in different uniforms sat around a red table looking at paperwork and phones in a large tent.
In a dusty tent next to the Bangkok building site, police officials have set up a registration desk for family members of those missing in the collapse.

Several solemn-faced people – mostly women – have shown up to lodge their details. Many of them are teary, clearly consumed by worry for their missing loved ones.

Occasionally, they break into sobs, overcome with emotion.

On a whiteboard propped up behind the desk, officials are keeping track of some grim numbers. As of this morning, 96 are missing, while eight are confirmed dead and eight are injured.

Around 50 people missing after Bangkok building collapse – Thai Deputy PM

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister stands in front of the ruins of the collapsed building, surrounded by reporters. He is wearing a high-vis jacket
In Thailand, the country’s deputy prime minister has been speaking to reporters after touring the site of a collapsed high-rise building in Bangkok.

In a press conference delivered in both Thai and English, he said the authorities believe that there are now approximately 50 people unaccounted for.

“We always have hope. We work tirelessly and are still working around the clock to make sure that everybody is safe,” Anutin Charnweerakul told reporters.

He also revealed that offers for help have come in from Thailand’s neighbouring countries and overseas.

“We have enough manpower and sufficient resources, but if we are offered more help especially technological help, of course we would gladly accept”.

Charnweerakul was also quizzed about why this particular building collapsed. He told reporters that he has given investigators seven days to report back on their findings.

Major earthquake adds to war-torn Myanmar’s troubles

In our previous post we brought you an update on airstrikes continuing in Myanmar, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake.

The country has seen decades of unrest and military rule since its independence from Britain in 1948.

In 2011, it appeared to move away from this and free elections were held four years later, which Aung San Suu Kyi won.

Democratic hopes were dashed in 2021, when she and her government were overthrown by a coup led by General Min Aung Hlaing.

He detained and charged Ms Suu Kyi and other members of her government, making allegations of widespread fraud in a vote held months earlier, when her National League for Democracy party won more than 80% of the ballot.

The coup triggered huge protests, with thousands taking to the streets daily, demanding the restoration of civilian rule. Violence quickly escalated between civilians and the military, with the army responding with brutal force, using tear gas and rubber bullets against crowds.

Rights groups believe hundreds of people died and thousands were injured in the crackdown.

You can read more about the unrest in war-torn Myanmar.

Airstrikes continue in Myanmar after earthquake

The military council has continued airstrikes and drone attacks after the earthquake in Myanmar, including one in the Sagaing region which has seen extensive damage and casualties from the quake.

According to the Chaung U Township People’s Defense Force, around 19:40 local time (13:10), Nwe Khway village in the Chaung U township, Sagaing, was bombed twice.

The other two strikes were at Ley Wah, in Kayin state, near the Karen National Union headquarters, and at Pyu in the Bago Region.