A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the China–Myanmar border early Monday, one of the region’s strongest in decades. Tremors were felt as far as Bangkok and Hanoi. The quake, hitting at a shallow 10 km depth, caused severe surface damage across China’s Yunnan province and Myanmar’s Shan State.

“It felt like the earth was breathing,” said a resident of Tengchong, China. In Myanmar, villagers described homes “collapsing within seconds” as families ran barefoot into the dark. Videos showed streets covered in debris and power lines sparking as people huddled outside wrapped in blankets.

Because it struck before dawn, many were asleep when it hit. Authorities shut off gas supplies and warned residents to stay away from damaged buildings. Communications and power were down in several towns, and hospitals relied on generators as they treated injuries from falling debris and road collapses.

Officials confirmed dozens dead and hundreds injured, with tolls expected to rise. A seven-year-old boy was rescued alive from a collapsed school after eight hours, giving rescuers renewed hope.

Landslides, aftershocks, and blocked roads continue to hamper rescue efforts as teams use drones, sniffer dogs, and heavy machinery to find survivors amid growing fears of further collapses.