A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the border region between China and Myanmar early Monday morning, shaking cities and remote mountain villages across Southeast Asia. Experts are calling it one of the strongest quakes to hit the area in decades.
The tremor damaged homes, schools, and hospitals over hundreds of kilometers, forcing residents into the streets as power lines snapped and buildings swayed. Within minutes, emergency operations were launched in both countries, while neighboring governments in Thailand, Laos, and northern Vietnam monitored for aftershocks.