Magnitude-7.9 quake hits Myanmar

A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on Friday, sending strong tremors to neighboring regions, including southwestern China, as well as parts of South and Southeast Asia.

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, the earthquake reached 7.9 magnitude.

By Friday night, 144 people had been killed and 732 injured in the powerful earthquake in Myanmar, the local government told Xinhua. Many more casualties are likely due to the collapse of housing and other facilities, according to local residents.

The earthquake took place at 2:20 pm (Beijing time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The epicenter was monitored at 21.85 degrees north latitude and 95.95 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 30 kilometers. The CENC said in a social media post that this was the strongest earthquake recorded so far this year.

A magnitude-6.4 aftershock occurred just 12 minutes later.

Myanmar's National Disaster Management Committee declared a state of emergency in six quake-affected areas and states, including Nay Pyi Daw, Sagaing region, Mandalay region, Magway region, northeast Shan state and Bago region, according to The Global New Light of Myanmar.

Striking about 20 kilometers northeast of Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, the quake caused the collapse of the 90-year-old Old Sagaing Bridge, and several buildings in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Daw. Some sections of the expressway linking Mandalay and Yangon were also damaged, causing road closures along the route.

The strong earthquake also prompted the closure of Mandalay and Nay Pyi Daw airports, according to a statement by Myanmar Airways International on social media.

People who got hurt during the earthquake were seen in crowds outside the emergency department at a major hospital in Nay Pyi Daw, according to AFP.

A government spokesperson urged the international community to give humanitarian aid as soon as possible. The Myanmar Red Cross Society said it had begun to provide first-aid and other emergency response in earthquake-hit areas.

"This is the strongest earthquake I have ever experienced in my life," said Win Zaw Htay, a staff member of The Global New Light of Myanmar in Yangon, adding "I tried to call some friends in Mandalay, but the line was busy so I could not reach them."

"The government is doing whatever possible (to help)," said Aye Chan, chief editor of Myanmar Insider magazine, who believes the humanitarian organizations will help in their private capacity.

The Chinese embassy in Myanmar said in a statement that Chinese nationals in Myanmar should remain on guard against earthquakes and secondary disasters. The embassy urged Chinese nationals to stay updated on earthquake and disaster prevention information and follow the arrangements and guidance of the local governments to relocate to safe areas.

Neighboring Thailand declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.

And two people were reported injured in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Xinhua News Agency and Mekong News Network contributed to this story.