A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the China–Myanmar border early Monday, shaking millions awake and causing widespread devastation across both nations. Experts say it is one of the region’s strongest quakes in decades, with tremors felt as far as Bangkok and Hanoi.
The quake hit at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, amplifying the surface impact. Its epicenter lay in the mountainous zone between China’s Yunnan province and Myanmar’s Shan State, an area known for active fault lines.
Survivors described violent shaking that shattered glass and sent residents fleeing barefoot into the streets. “It felt like the earth was breathing,” said one resident of Tengchong, China. In Myanmar, villagers reported brick homes collapsing within seconds as terrified families sought safety in the dark.
Because the quake struck before dawn, many were asleep when the ground began to roll. Videos online show crowds wrapped in blankets, streets littered with debris, and power lines sparking. Authorities cut gas supplies to prevent fires and urged residents to avoid weakened buildings.
Communications and power were down across several towns. Hospitals switched to generators as ambulances carried in the injured — many suffering fractures and head trauma from falling debris or road collapses. In Baoshan City, China, makeshift triage tents overflowed with patients.
Officials in both countries confirmed dozens dead and hundreds injured, with tolls expected to rise as rescuers reach isolated areas. Rural clinics in Myanmar have already run out of supplies.
Rescue teams are racing against time, using sniffer dogs, drones, and heavy machinery to locate survivors. A seven-year-old boy was pulled alive from a collapsed school after eight hours, offering a glimmer of hope.
Landslides, blocked roads, and continuing aftershocks threaten ongoing operations, making relief efforts increasingly perilous as the search continues.