Powerful earthquake hits Myanmar, with strong tremors felt in Yangon

As a powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on Friday, strong tremors were felt in Yangon, the country's largest city, where residents were startled and schools carried out emergency evacuations.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck 16 km NNW of Sagaing, central Myanmar at around 12:50 local time (06:20 GMT) on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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.

Although Yangon lies far from the earthquake's epicenter, the city still experienced significant tremors that left a strong impact on the residents.

"When the earthquake was occurring, the whole classroom shook violently. The teachers quickly evacuated the students. The desks and chairs also swayed intensely, and everyone felt dizzy," recalled a local resident.

Another resident, a security guard, said he had never felt such strong tremors, and that his children were also terrified.

"I was on patrol as a security guard during the quake. It was the first time in my life I felt such intense tremors and shaking. I've never experienced anything like it before, and the strong tremors made me feel extremely dizzy. There was no damage at home, but my children were terrified and are still feeling disoriented," he said.

Later on Friday evening, business activities and traffic in Yangon gradually resumed, and many residents who had sought shelter outdoors began returning to their buildings.

At least 144 people have been killed and 732 others injured in the earthquake, according to the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council.

The tremors were felt in China, Thailand, and Laos.

Powerful earthquake hits Myanmar, with strong tremors felt in Yangon

Powerful earthquake hits Myanmar, with strong tremors felt in Yangon

Powerful earthquake hits Myanmar, with strong tremors felt in Yangon

Powerful earthquake hits Myanmar, with strong tremors felt in Yangon

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media