A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, causing tremors in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, has claimed the lives of 1,002 people and injured over 2,376. According to reports from Sri Lanka’s diplomatic missions in Myanmar and Thailand, no Sri Lankans have been affected.
Director General of Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Niluka Kadurugamuwa said yesterday that the Sri Lanka Embassy in Myanmar and the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok have reported no incidents involving Sri Lankan nationals.
The Ministry has called upon Sri Lankans in Thailand and Myanmar to remain vigilant and to contact the Embassies in Yangon and Bangkok should they need assistance or have been affected by the earthquake. The earthquake, the strongest since the 2023 tremor that devastated Turkey and Syria, was felt across the region, including China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Sri Lanka’s solidarity with those affected by the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, offering heartfelt condolences to the bereaved and wishing a swift recovery to those injured.
Sri Lankans in Thailand have been advised to stay alert, with the Embassy’s emergency hotline (+66 812498011) for assistance. Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Yangon has a history of proactive support for nationals in times of crisis, and the mission in Bangkok is working closely with the Thai authorities to ensure the safety of any affected Sri Lankans. Kadurugamuwa said that the Embassy is monitoring the situation continuously to provide assistance.
The epicentre of the earthquake was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where the majority of fatalities had been reported. Emergency teams have been deployed to rescue survivors trapped beneath the collapsed buildings.
