Strong earthquake shook Myanmar, Thailand

Two powerful 7.0 richter earthquakes rocked northeastern Myanmar, close to Thailand and Laos, in less than a minute on March 24. A person in Thailand was killed. People in Hanoi also felt their houses shaking.

The earthquake shook the Burmese border areas, bordering Thailand and Laos. However, no tsunami warning was given later. According to the Pacific tsunami warning agency, the earthquake occurred deep in the mainland, so it was difficult to cause tsunamis.

According to the US Geological Survey, two earthquakes occurred a few seconds apart, at 8:25 pm on March 24 (8:55 pm Vietnam time tonight). The epicenter is 110 km from northern Chiang Rai in neighboring Thailand and 235 km from Thailand's second largest city and a popular tourist destination.

The first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0, which occurred at a depth of 10 km. The second earthquake with the same intensity occurred shortly after, but at a depth of 230km.

Police said a 53-year-old woman in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province was killed when the wall collapsed. In addition, hospital officials said there was no further notice of the death or injury.

Vibrations are people in the capital Bangkok, Thailand, 800km from the epicenter and in Hanoi and Vietnam feel.

Max Jones, an Australian citizen in the Thai capital, is in his apartment on the 27th floor, the building shakes so hard that he has to cling to the wall to avoid falling.

' I was terrified, ' he said. Jones also saw everyone running to the streets.

In Hanoi, many people ran away from high-rise buildings.

Thai people, Mianmar panic

' In 40 years of life, I have never felt such a strong earthquake. A glass cup was broken and I had to hold my pillow tightly , 'said Thanawan Sisukniyom, a retired teacher at Mai Sai.

Witnesses in the tourist city of Chiang Mai said there was no damage yet but the earthquake was felt very strong.

A witness in the city of Tachilek, Myanmar, adjacent to Chiang Rai, said the parked motorcycles were dumped and there were many cracks in the road.

TPBS TV reported that electricity was cut in many areas in Mae Sai.

Chiang Rai is the northernmost province of Thailand, with sparsely populated, mountainous areas forming part of the notorious ' Golden Triangle ' of drugs, where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand 'meet' .

Somchai Baimuang, deputy director of the Thai Meteorological Agency called on people not to panic.

'It's still too early to know if there is any damage. In the next 2 days there is a possibility of aftershocks , "he said.

People in Naypyitaw capital, Myanmar and Yangon's largest city have poured into the streets. No notice of casualties.

' Many people have fled their homes and sat on the ground, away from buildings. They were still sitting there because there were a lot of aftershocks , "said a resident in Kentung, about 80km from the epicenter.

' In some buildings, the TV falls off the table. I do not know if someone is injured or not but I think there will be great damage to the property , 'he said.