Tremors were felt across a wide area, reaching into northern Thailand, where buildings swayed, alarms sounded, and residents rushed into the streets in panic. In several cities, authorities ordered immediate evacuations of high-rise buildings, fearing aftershocks and structural failures. For many, the darkness, the sudden shaking, and the confusion turned ordinary sleep into a moment of terror.
Initial reports confirm at least 48 fatalities, with more than 300 people injured and dozens still missing. Officials warn that these numbers are likely to rise as rescue teams reach remote areas and sift through rubble in cities and villages alike. Entire neighborhoods have been damaged, with homes, shops, and public buildings reduced to piles of concrete, twisted metal, and dust.
One of the hardest-hit locations is the city of Lashio, where multiple buildings collapsed in quick succession. Emergency crews worked through the night, digging by hand where heavy machinery could not reach, listening for voices beneath the debris. Survivors described scenes of chaos—walls splitting open, furniture thrown across rooms, and roads cracking beneath their feet.
