YANGON/BANGKOK/VIENTIANE/HANOI/HONG KONG – At least 13 people were killed when a mosque collapsed in Mandalay in Myanmar and a 30-story building crumbled in the Thai capital of Bangkok, after a strong earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, according to local media.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.9, jolted 16 km NNW of Sagaing, Myanmar earlier in the day, said the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 22.01 degrees north latitude and 95.92 degrees east longitude.

The quake caused "considerable damage" to some buildings, including the walled fort of Mandalay Palace.

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Multiple structures in Mandalay Region suffered collapses, while several roads linking Mandalay and Yangon were damaged or blocked, disrupting transportation.

Xinhua reporters in Yangon reported that the tremors were strongly felt in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw and the largest city of Yangon. Some schools and office buildings in Nay Pyi Taw were also reported to have crumbled.

Following the quake, Myanmar's National Disaster Management Committee declared a state of emergency across six regions in the southeast Asian country – Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, northeastern Shan State, Naypyidaw, and Bago.

(This video shows the ceiling of Mandalay International Airport collapsing, leading to the cancellation of flights. )

"The state will make inquiries on the situation quickly and conduct rescue operations along with providing humanitarian aid," it said on the Telegram messaging app.

Leader of the Myanmar authorities Min Aung Hlaing visited the wounded at a hospital in Naypyidaw Friday afternoon, Xinhua reported.

The Myanmar Fire Service Department said that a rescue operation has been conducted in response to the earthquake.

Following the earthquake, Xinhua reporters in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Bangkok, capital of Thailand, and Hanoi, capital of Vietnam reported that strong tremors were felt in those areas as well.

Region rattled

The quake was also felt across Thailand, with strong tremors reported in Bangkok.

Tremors lasted for several minutes, prompting residents to evacuate high-rise buildings and gather in the streets, worsening traffic congestion in downtown Bangkok.

Initial reports showed three people were killed and 81 others trapped under a collapsed 30-story building in the Thai capital following the Myanmar earthquake, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told media after inspection on the spot.

Phumtham noted that the earthquake caused strong tremors in many areas of Bangkok, and the government is worried about the impact of aftershocks, which are now under close monitoring.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) declared the Thai capital a Level 2 disaster zone on Friday afternoon.

The epicenter was some 366 km from Mae Hong Son province’s Pang Mapha district in Thailand and strong tremors were felt in the north and central regions, especially Bangkok, causing damage to structures in several areas, according to a statement from Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

Army Spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree announced that Army Commander-in-Chief General Pana Claewplodtook has ordered the immediate activation of the Army Disaster Relief Center for public assistance. All units have been instructed to mobilize personnel and essential equipment for immediate deployment.

Army hospitals have also been placed on standby to receive emergency patients.

The Thai civil aviation department said Bangkok's airports were operating normally.

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The Stock Exchange of Thailand announced “the immediate suspension of all trading activities", the bourse operator said.

Trading was also suspended at Thailand's Market for Alternative Investment (MAI), and the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX).

China Daily's reporter in Bangkok was having lunch when suddenly tremors started rolling in. It continued for a few seconds. After a pause, it resumed for another 10 or more intense seconds.

Streetlights on an elevated expressway about 100m away shook violently.

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In Vientiane, buildings above three stories experienced noticeable shaking, with residents in high-rise buildings feeling intense swaying indoors.

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, residents living in high-rise buildings also experienced noticeable shaking while at home.

With inputs from Yang Wanli in Bangkok, Yang Han in Hong Kong & The Nation/ANN