Earthquake in Myanmar causes tremors in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

People run out of office buildings in District 3, HCM City when they felt the building shaking on Friday afternoon. — VNA/VNS Photos

HANOI — Vietnam’s Institute of Geophysics has reported that a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, with tremors felt in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other parts of the country.

In an interview with Vietnam News Agency’s Tin Tức online newspaper, Nguyen Xuan Anh, director of the institute under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, said the earthquake occurred at 1:20 p.m.

The epicenter was located at coordinates 21.71°N, 96.02°E, about 600 km north of Myanmar’s capital, Yangon, with a depth of 10 km and a magnitude of 7.3.

READ: ‘Mass casualty’ after magnitude 7.7 quake strikes Myanmar, Thailand

“The earthquake had a significant impact, with tremors spreading to areas with tall buildings. High-rise buildings and apartment complexes in Hanoi were also affected,” Anh said.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake’s magnitude as 7.7, while the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) recorded a magnitude of 6.9 for Myanmar and 7.3 for Thailand’s capital, Bangkok.

The tremors were felt widely across Southeast Asia.

In Hanoi, many buildings in the districts of Hoang Mai, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Ha Dong, and Hoai Duc reported strong shaking.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Magnitude 7.7 Myanmar-Thailand earthquake

Living on the 10th floor of an apartment block in Hanoi’s Hoang Mai District, Do Dinh Phat said the building shook violently, causing panic as people rushed to the lobby.

“I’ve never felt an earthquake so strongly before—it kept swaying continuously. I’m still in shock,” he said.

Luu Thi Van, a resident of a 21-story building in Hoang Mai District, said: “I thought I was dizzy, but then I realized it was the earthquake. The chandelier, fans, and light fixtures were swaying like pendulums.”

Huong Giang, who lives in a building in Hoai Duc District, said: “Suddenly, I felt the furniture shaking strongly for about five minutes. It was truly terrifying.”

As of 2:20 p.m. on Friday, the crowd on Nguyen Hue Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City was growing as more people left nearby buildings due to fears of aftershocks.

READ: 43 trapped as Bangkok skyscraper collapses after quake

In Ho Chi Minh City, many residents in high-rise buildings in District 1, Phu Nhuan District, and District 11 also reported feeling tremors and rushed outside for safety.

Diem Thu, living in the Tan Phuoc apartment complex in District 11, said she was resting when her apartment suddenly started shaking violently.

“Once I regained my senses, I realized it was definitely an earthquake. Stepping into the corridor, I saw many people running downstairs. We all shared the same feeling and rushed to the ground floor for safety.” — VNS