Photo:VCG 

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday afternoon, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Tremors were felt in Thailand and Laos as well as some places in Southwest China's Yunnan Province bordering Myanmar, according to media reports. 

When asked if the Chinese Foreign Ministry is able to provide an update on the safety of Chinese citizens and businesses in Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh following the Mandalay earthquake, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday that "we noted relevant reports on the earthquake; we are following and checking the situation, and will release information in a timely manner."

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Friday issued a statement, reminding Chinese nationals in Myanmar to take precautions against earthquakes and secondary disasters. The diplomatic missions promptly activated their emergency response mechanisms, are closely monitoring the earthquake disaster and the situation of Chinese nationals affected in Myanmar, and "are making all-out efforts to carry out response work."

The Myanmar earthquake has caused 144 deaths and 732 injuries, China Media Group reported at 9:54 pm on Friday Beijing time.

There were no official data released by local authorities as of press time. 

At least 10 people were killed when a mosque collapsed in Mandalay after a strong earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing local media outlet Khit Thit. The quake caused "considerable damage" to some buildings, including the walled fort of Mandalay Palace. 

Multiple structures in Mandalay Region suffered collapses, while several roads linking Mandalay and Yangon were damaged or blocked, disrupting transportation, according to the Xinhua report.

Wu Yutong, a Chinese businessman who works in Yangon, Myanmar, told the Global Times that when the earthquake struck, he was in his office. The desks were shaking, and he felt strong tremors and dizziness. Around 15 people in the office immediately evacuated to take shelter outside. The tremors lasted for about ten minutes, Wu said.

Kyaw Zay Yar Myat, a resident of Yangon, told the Global Times on Friday that when the earthquake struck, they were working on the 9th floor of a building. The internet and phone lines were cut off at that time, and they evacuated outside, waiting there out of fear of aftershocks.

"We were afraid. I had never experienced that kind of feeling before," said Kyaw Zay Yar Myat.

Tremors felt in Yunnan

The epicenter of the earthquake is located 294 kilometers from the nearest borderline of China, causing strong tremors in Xishuangbanna, Dehong, Kunming, Lijiang, Baoshan, Dali and other areas of Yunnan Province. Tremors were also felt in parts of Guizhou and Guangxi, according to CMG.

The China Earthquake Administration activated its emergency response, held video calls with local departments, initiated assessments, and dispatched a team to Ruili, Yunan to support emergency efforts.

A working staff from the emergency management bureau of Ruili told the Global Times on Friday that two people with minor injuries have been sent to the hospital. The extent of building damages and casualties is still being assessed.

Immediately after the earthquake, the Ruili immigration border inspection station deployed officers to conduct patrols along the border areas, including border villages and local primary schools, to assess the situation and check for damage. They inspected over 100 border facilities, visited more than 50 local households, and identified 14 potential safety hazards, the Global Times learned from the station. 

At the Ruili Port, on-duty officers promptly organized the evacuation of inbound and outbound travelers at the time of the earthquake, guiding them to safe, open areas in an orderly and timely manner, according to the station. 

Soon after the earthquake, China's National Early Warning Center issued a notice, saying that the earthquake may trigger a localized tsunami near the epicenter. However, as the epicenter is outside the Pacific region, it is unlikely to impact China's coastal areas.

The center will continue to monitor and analyze the earthquake and tsunami data and will release information in a timely manner.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Friday announced a state of emergency in Bangkok, following the strong earthquake, according to Xinhua.

The tremors were also felt in Thailand, and witnesses in Bangkok said people ran out onto the streets in panic and water splashed out of swimming pools, according to Reuters. 

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand also issued a statement on Friday night, saying that many places in Thailand have been affected by the tremor to a certain extent. The embassy reminds Chinese nationals in Thailand to pay close attention to safety.

The embassy reminds Chinese nationals in Thailand to closely monitor the earthquake warnings and disaster prevention information from Thai authorities, strengthen personal safety precautions, keep communication devices accessible, stay calm during the earthquake, and actively cooperate with the local government's arrangements.

The epicenter was about 17.2 km from the city of Mandalay, which has a population about 1.2 million, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Reuters reported. 

This earthquake is the 17th earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or above worldwide so far this year, and also the strongest earthquake recorded this year so far, according to CMG.

The earthquake may have been triggered by intense tectonic activity along the boundary between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, and it occurred on a right-lateral strike-slip fault zone with a slip rate of approximately 20 millimeters per year, Xu Xiwei, a professor from the Beijing-based China University of Geosciences, told the Global Times.

The continuous accumulation of tectonic stress resulted in the magnitude 7.9 earthquake, with an energy release comparable to that of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, said Xu.

Xu also noted that there remains a possibility of aftershocks with a magnitude of 6.0 or above. Additionally, the region's relatively underdeveloped infrastructure may pose challenges to rescue and relief operations. Authorities also need to stay alert to the risk of secondary disasters, including landslides and flooding in low-lying areas, the expert said.