Ten thousand feared dead as Earthquake hits Thailand

hollydolly

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Thousands are feared dead after a huge earthquake hit Thailand and Myanmar this morning, destroying buildings and sparking fears that dams could collapse, leading to catastrophic flooding.

The US Geological Survey forecast thousands of losses after the 7.7 magnitude quake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city early on Friday.

The shallow tremor struck central Myanmar at 13.20 local time (6.50GMT), and was followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock.

Officials at a major hospital in Naypyidaw, the capital, declared it a 'mass casualty area', with the death toll expected to rise after buildings fell and debris scattered.

'I haven't seen (something) like this before. We are trying to handle the situation. I'm so exhausted now,' a doctor told the AFP news agency.

Professor Ian Main, Personal Chair in Seismology and Rock Physics, School of GeoSciences, at the University of Edinburgh said: 'The damage is likely to be very severe near the epicentre- based on the estimated intensity of ground shaking above, and maps of population density and vulnerability of buildings.

'The USGS 'PAGER' forecast loss is, sadly, most likely to be in the range 10,000-100,000 fatalities,' he said, referring to the American agency's earthquake impact report.

The force caused a mosque in Mandalay to collapse, with at least ten worshippers reported to have been killed.

More than 20 children are also believed to be trapped in a destroyed school in Taungoo, central Myanmar.

Shocking footage showed workers fleeing in neighbouring Thailand as a 30-storey high-rise building under construction in Bangkok collapsed around them.

At least three people were killed as the skyscraper toppled. Local authorities said that dozens of workers have been rescued from the site, though 90 are still missing.

More here with video...

Ten thousand feared dead in Thailand and Myanmar
 

96662971-14546875-Workers_were_seen_walking_away_from_the_building_slowly_when_it_-a-55_1743164781367.jpg

96667923-14546875-Rescue_workers_walk_past_debris_of_a_construction_site_after_a_b-a-36_1743161142810.jpg

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96663055-14546875-Rescuers_work_at_the_site_of_a_collapsed_building_after_the_trem-a-40_1743161142811.jpg

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96663023-14546875-Distraught_workers_are_seen_at_the_site_of_a_collapsed_building_-a-42_1743161142812.jpg
 
Stunning and horrifying pictures and video coming out.

Some of the newer buildings and those under construction didn't fare too well. Alot of earthquake proofing is done at the foundation and lower levels. Although maybe things didn't have time to fully settle or set in ground or the concrete itself

Best wishes to survivors and a speedy recovery.

RIP those lost.
 

Even though the USGS is normally in the range of being accurate, the number of possible fatalities being 10,000-100,000 is a wide range. It will be interesting to learn how many people were actually killed. In these instances, trying to estimate the death toll is nearly impossible.

You can’t help but to feel sorry for these people. Hundreds, if not thousands of families will be effected. This is definitely a shame.
They are going to need a lot of help with clean water, food, cleanup supplies, machinery and much more.

I wish them all the best.
 
Even though the USGS is normally in the range of being accurate, the number of possible fatalities being 10,000-100,000 is a wide range. It will be interesting to learn how many people were actually killed. In these instances, trying to estimate the death toll is nearly impossible.

You can’t help but to feel sorry for these people. Hundreds, if not thousands of families will be effected. This is definitely a shame.
They are going to need a lot of help with clean water, food, cleanup supplies, machinery and much more.

I wish them all the best.

What the USGS said regarding fatalities and percent chances...
For the 7.7 estimated fatalities...
1743186307915.png

For the 6.7 aftershock estimate...
1743186506177.png
That does not include the myriad of lesser aftershocks in an area that has been destabilized. No one will really know the final count, as the Myanmar government will likely distort the figures. Nonetheless, it is bad.
 
What the USGS said regarding fatalities and percent chances...
For the 7.7 estimated fatalities...
View attachment 412950

For the 6.7 aftershock estimate...
View attachment 412952
That does not include the myriad of lesser aftershocks in an area that has been destabilized. No one will really know the final count, as the Myanmar government will likely distort the figures. Nonetheless, it is bad.

Immediately, a question comes to mind. Why would they distort the numbers?
 
Immediately, a question comes to mind. Why would they distort the numbers?
Not sure what you mean by distorted numbers. The two charts represent two different scenarios for earthquakes. The first chart indicated the anticipated toll for a 7.7, while the 2nd chart represents the anticipated toll for a 6.7, as if the first had not occurred. They are both stand alone charts. However, the 2nd would be calculated as if there were no such first earthquake and thereby no weakening of infrastructure.
 
Not sure what you mean by distorted numbers. The two charts represent two different scenarios for earthquakes. The first chart indicated the anticipated toll for a 7.7, while the 2nd chart represents the anticipated toll for a 6.7, as if the first had not occurred. They are both stand alone charts. However, the 2nd would be calculated as if there were no such first earthquake and thereby no weakening of infrastructure.
You wrote “Myanmar government will likely distort the figures. Nonetheless, it is bad.”
 
This is such a terrifying and sad story. My heart goes out to those who perished, and their families.

The video of the high-rise collapsing brought back awful memories of the WTC towers.
 

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