A 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook Southeast Asia on Friday, March 28, causing widespread damage as it hit Myanmar with an epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar 's second largest city, with tremors felt strongly across Thailand and also in China.

The powerful earthquake, which had its epicenter in central Myanmar about 13 miles from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, struck around 12:50 p.m. local time, the New York Times reported. It was followed by several tremors, including a 6.4 magnitude aftershock which occurred just 11 minutes later.

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, collapsing buildings and leading to rising casualty reports in both countries. The big picture: The epicenter of the quake struck near Mandalay,

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday causing mass destruction. More than 1600 people are dead and authorities expect that number to rise.

A powerful earthquake killed more than 140 people in Myanmar on Friday, authorities said, toppling buildings and wrecking infrastructure across a wide area, including a skyscraper under construction in neighbouring Thailand.

It sent buildings in many areas toppling to the ground, buckled roads, caused bridges to collapse and burst a dam.

It makes movement around the country both difficult and dangerous, complicating relief efforts and raising fears that the death toll could still rise precipitously. Read More: That Rocked Myanmar and Thailand The earthquake struck midday Friday with an epicenter not far from Mandalay,

Thousands of people in Myanmar may need urgent shelter, food and medical help, according to the International Rescue Committee's Myanmar director, Mohamed Riyas. He says it could be weeks before the full extent of the earthquake damage is known,

Friday's deadly earthquake rattled most of Myanmar and Thailand but certain areas sustained the heaviest damage, including flattened buildings and many lost lives