Naypyidaw [Myanmar]: Rescue operations are in progress in Myanmar after a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake that left behind extensive damage and at least 1,700 fatalities. Many more people have been hurt or buried beneath debris as a result of the earthquake, which was felt as far away as Bangkok and Chinese regions, according to CNN.

The military administration says at least 1,700 people have died and around 3,400 have been wounded. There are still about 300 people missing.

According to CNN, early modeling by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) suggested that the eventual death toll would exceed 10,000.

The epicenter of the earthquake occurred close to the ancient city of Mandalay in the central Sagaing region of Myanmar. There have been several buildings, bridges, and temples destroyed or damaged in the area, which is home to more than 1.5 million people.

The earthquake had a deadly effect on Bangkok, killing at least 18 people and trapping scores more under the debris of a high-rise building that collapsed. Eleven individuals were killed when the structure, which was still under construction, collapsed in a matter of minutes.

As police rushed to react to the tragedy, seven other casualties were reported elsewhere in the city, CNN said. About 80 individuals are still unaccounted for, and search and rescue efforts are still underway. At the site of the collapsed building, families of the missing are gathering in anticipation of hearing from their loved ones.

With a magnitude of 7.7, the earthquake that shook Myanmar was the strongest to strike the nation in more than 100 years. Following it, there were other aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.7, which shook the area all weekend long.

Rescue crews are working quickly to get to the people impacted, especially in regions isolated by the fall of a crucial bridge over the Irrawaddy River. Experts worry that it may take weeks to determine the actual death toll since so many people are still missing.

Meanwhile, after a rare appeal for assistance from the military regime, international rescue teams and supplies have begun to arrive in Myanmar.

As Myanmar struggles with a civil conflict that has ravaged health facilities, destroyed communication networks, and left millions without enough food and shelter since 2021, Friday’s earthquake was the biggest natural calamity to strike the nation in years.

The extent of the destruction in the nation “hasn’t been seen in over a century in Asia,” an International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) official said.

The IFRC’s Myanmar program coordinator, Marie Manrique, told CNN’s Lynda Kinkade that the earthquake’s effects would be felt “for the next few weeks,” implying that more people will likely be killed and injured since some people are still trapped under fallen structures.