MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. The probability of the death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar exceeding 1,000 is 86%, with a 34% chance that between 10,000-100,000 people die, and a 22% chance that over 100,000 people perish, according to the estimates by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Per the agency, approximately 796,000 people live in the most affected area, while 3.9 million reside in areas where the seismic activity caused severe damage to unreinforced structures and moderate damage to buildings built to withstand earthquakes. "Estimated economic losses are 6-70% GDP of Burma," the USGS said, adding that the scale of economic damage from the destruction may exceed $10 billion, a figure representing 70% of the country's GDP.
Myanmar was struck by the powerful earthquake at 12:50 p.m. on Friday (6:20 a.m. GMT). Various sources put the magnitude of the earthquake from 7.7 to 7.9. It was followed by a second large earthquake, measured at magnitude 6.4. Tremors were felt in China, Thailand and Vietnam.
According to the USGS estimates, the most severely affected urban areas include Sagaing (79,000 residents) and Meiktila (177,000 residents). The quake also caused significant damage to Mandalay (1.2 million residents), the former capital of the Burmese Empire and the second largest city in Myanmar, as well as the cities of Kyaukse (50,000 residents) and Shwebo (89,000 residents).
In all of the aforementioned populated areas, the earthquake severely damaged or destroyed buildings with poor seismic resistance. Moreover, it was earlier reported that a bridge over the Irrawaddy River had collapsed in Myanmar due to the earthquake, while the historic Mandalay Palace had been partially damaged. In Bangkok, residents of multi-story apartment buildings are being evacuated. At least 60 workers have found themselves trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building.