We start with breaking news. A strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake has hit Myanmar. The impact has also been felt in the Thai capital, Bangkok, 600 miles away. Thailand’s prime minister has declared a state of emergency. Well, at least 43 workers are trapped after a skyscraper that was under construction collapsed in the Thai capital. Well, the shaking caused by the earthquake threw water from a swimming pool down the height of this skyscraper in Bangkok. Well, there’s been less information coming out of Myanmar, the epicenter of.
the quake Uh but this is some of the damage in the capital. Well, the United States Geological Survey said the depth of the quake was 10 kilometers and was followed by a powerful aftershock. Well, let’s speak to our Asia correspondent, Cordelia Lynch, who joins me now. Cordelia, you’re in Bangkok so get us up to date with what the situation is like there. Well, it’s taken everyone uh by surprise here in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok. At about 1:30 this afternoon I was here in the office and started to see the lights.
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Above me, the window panes too And there was a lot of commotion; lots of people were running downstairs to evacuate the building. And this was a scene repeated across the city. There was no warning that this was coming. This is in a country still reeling from a devastating tsunami 20 years ago and we have already seen some significant damage. One building has collapsed. We understand that at least 40 construction workers are trapped inside. We are waiting for updates from there but certainly the video from the scene shows.
that this had an immediate and enormous impact on that building I’ve seen images of other buildings across the city damaged too. That construction site where they were still trying to complete, uh, the building is close to a place called Chattered Market here in Bangkok. Uh, that’s a very busy place and this is a city home to many, uh, high-rise buildings. We’ve seen lots of swimming pools flooded. Uh, of course, many of these apartment blocks are high-rise here and I think the sense I get from speaking to.
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Many here in the capital are saying that they didn’t see this coming in any way. There was no word of it and we are here about 600 miles from the actual epicenter, which is near Manderley in central Myanmar and there the damage already appears to be far more devastating. It was a 7.7 magnitude earthquake; 12 minutes later, an aftershock registered 6.
4 4 magnitude and we’ve seen images of temples, some of the pagodas as well and a bridge near Mandalay that have all been damaged. The problem, though, is that this is a country reeling from a continued and very bloody civil war. Getting information out of Myanmar is always extremely difficult, especially in a moment like this and getting aid to those who may need it will also be too difficult. So a huge logistical challenge is there. Here we have heard from the Thai prime minister, who has already declared a state of emergency in a very rare move, too. Anna has established a war.
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room uh that’s an indicator of the needs that they think uh they will see in the coming hours and days. Uh, we will have to see what more we might have from Myanmar. As I say, it’s very difficult to reach people there now, Uh but certainly the images suggest that this is an earthquake that’s already had a significant impact Indeed And I know you’ll keep us updated with any more information uh, there in Bangkok, Cordelia. Thanks very much indeed.
