10 PEOPLE KILLED IN POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN MYANMAR

YANGON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed when a mosque collapsed in Mandalay after a strong earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, Xinhua reported, citing local media outlet Khit Thit.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, jolted 16 kilometres (km) north northwest (NNW) of Sagaing, Myanmar, earlier in the day, the US Geological Survey said.

The epicentre, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 22.01 degrees north latitude and 95.92 degrees east longitude.

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.

Xinhua reporters in Yangon reported that the tremors were strongly felt in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw and the largest city of Yangon. Some schools and office buildings in Nay Pyi Taw were also reported to have crumbled.

The Myanmar Fire Service Department said that a rescue operation has been conducted in response to the earthquake.

Following the earthquake, Xinhua reporters in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Bangkok, capital of Thailand, and Hanoi, capital of Vietnam reported that strong tremors were felt in those areas as well.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced a state of emergency in Bangkok.

A 30-story building under construction collapsed in the Thai capital, resulting in one death and leaving 43 others missing.

In Vientiane, buildings above three stories experienced noticeable shaking, with residents in high-rise buildings feeling intense swaying indoors.

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, residents living in high-rise buildings also experienced noticeable shaking while at home.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA