A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck early Monday morning, triggering a widespread emergency across parts of southern China, northern Thailand, and Myanmar. The quake’s epicenter was located in a mountainous area near the border between China’s Yunnan Province and Myanmar, striking at 3:42 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The impact has been devastating. Early reports indicate that dozens have died, hundreds are injured, and many remain trapped under collapsed buildings. Emergency responders are working around the clock in a desperate effort to reach survivors. The scale of destruction has overwhelmed local resources, especially in remote and hard-hit areas.

Cities in northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, felt the tremors strongly. Local authorities have ordered mass evacuations, citing concerns over aftershocks and unstable infrastructure. In many affected areas, hospitals are operating at full capacity, treating the injured and providing shelter for displaced residents despite power outages and damaged roads.

Rescue efforts are being hampered by downed communication lines and widespread infrastructure damage. Aftershocks continue to rattle the region as officials assess the full scope of the disaster. Governments in Thailand, China, and Myanmar have pledged joint support for relief efforts, underlining the urgent need for regional cooperation and preparedness in the face of natural disasters.