IRISH people living in Bangkok have spoken of their terror after a devastating earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand.
More than 140 people have died and hundreds are injured in Myanmar and Thailand following a massive 7.7 magnitude quake.
Tremors from the earthquake were felt in neighbouring countries, including Thailand, where an unfinished high-rise collapsed in Bangkok, killing at least eight people.
Shock videos from Myanmar and Thailand show high-rise buildings being reduced to rubble and religious buildings and homes completely crumbling, with a major search and rescue mission continuing tonight.
Amid the mayhem, an Irish PE teacher in Bangkok told how children screamed in terror as the tremors hit.
Leona Kelly, 31, was in a sports hall attending a school match when the Thai capital was plunged in chaos.
She said: “We did feel the shock.
“There were kids starting to scream. It was just a little bit chaotic.
“At first, I was a little bit scared. I didn’t really know what it was.
“I felt a little bit lightheaded. Then I quickly realised what it was.
“The first thing I did do was text my family and let them know what had happened.”
Ms Kelly revealed that there was “significant shaking of buildings” with high rise buildings “swaying”, and water cascading from rooftop swimming pools.
She declared: “There was significant damage around the city.”
And Ms Kelly admitted locals were gripped by “nervous apprehension to see if there is going to be any more aftershocks or tremors”.
The young woman also highlighted how public transport has been suspended and that there are “lots of people piling out onto the streets”.
Donegal native Travis Leon Price also revealed his terrifying experience after the devastating earthquake hit.
The Irish TikToker, who has been living and working in Thailand since 2021, captured a video as the quake rocked the country.
“There were kids starting to scream. It was just a little bit chaotic.”
Leona Kelly
His footage showed a swimming pool splashing and spilling over the edge due to the tremors.
Travis fled his apartment, which is on the 40th floor of his building, during the ordeal.
Detailing his experience he told his TikTok followers: “Bangkok was just hit by an earthquake.
“That was genuinely so scary.
“I was all the way up on the 40th floor.
‘ROOM WAS SWAYING’
“The room was swaying side to side – I thought I was having vertigo.
“I looked out over the balcony and I could see the pool splashing over the edge.”
Travis had to run down the security stairs of his building, which took him around 20 minutes, to get outside the skyscraper.
He continued: “We had to run down the security stairs while everything was falling.
“That was terrifying.
‘BUILDING ARE FALLING APART’
“Buildings are falling apart literally.”
Meanwhile, Dublin woman Julie Mehigan, Christian Aid’s Head of Asia, Middle East & Europe, called for an “urgent emergency response” to the quake disaster.
Ms Mehigan said: “This disaster has left people isolated, devastated and in need of drinking water, food and shelter.
“Christian Aid has heard from partners and colleagues on the ground that the Kyaukse Kinta Dam has burst in Mandalay with water levels rising in the lowland areas around.
“We are working closely with our partners and networks to identify the extent of the existing damage and risk to communities there. Mandalay airport is closed to international and domestic travel due to damage to the infrastructure.
HELP NEEDED
“Christian Aid is reaching out to our partners to carry out assessments to identify the most vulnerable people who need our help immediately. However, with a nationwide power outage, communication will continue to be challenging.
“Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world. Even before this heartbreaking earthquake, we know conflict and displacement has left countless people in real need. Every prayer and every gift will bring hope to people hit by disaster.”
The quake was so powerful that it was picked up by seismometers in Ireland.
FELT BACK HOME
Just over half an hour after the initial quake, a shock wave from it was picked up by Irish National Seismic monitors in Tipperary and Mayo.
It was also recorded by other seismic stations across the country, including in Louth, Inch Island in Donegal, Wexford, Galway, and west Cork.
The Irish National Seismic Network said such was the strength of the quake, seismographs in Valentia in Kerry and in Dublin also recorded sound wave readings over a 15-minute period from just before 7am this morning.
