A major earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand, killing more than 150 people and injuring hundreds. Dozens are stranded in collapsed buildings and the death toll is expected to rise.
The shallow quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale in the early afternoon struck northwest of the central Myanmar town of Sagaing, and was followed minutes later by a 6.4 Richter aftershock.
The earthquake leveled buildings, collapsed bridges and damaged roads in large parts of Myanmar and even destroyed a 30-storey skyscraper under construction hundreds of kilometres away in Bangkok, AFP reported.
While the full extent of the catastrophe is still unclear, the leader of isolated Myanmar, which is in the grip of a civil war, made a rare appeal for international help.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing said 144 people had died and 732 were injured. But he warned that the death toll "is likely to rise". So far 8 deaths have been confirmed in Thailand, with more expected.
"In some places, some buildings have collapsed. I would like to invite any country, any organization or anyone in Myanmar to come and help. Thank you," he said in a televised speech after visiting a hospital in the capital Naypyidaw.
The junta leader called for a massive relief effort after the disaster and said he had "opened all avenues for foreign aid". | BGNES
