Myanmar Earthquake: Control Tower At Naypyidaw Airport Collapses, Flights Diverted To Yangon

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Meanwhile, satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC analysed by The Associated Press have shown that the 7.7-magnitude quake toppled the air traffic control tower at the Naypyidaw International Airport.

The images showed that the tower toppled as if it was sheered from its base. Debris lay scattered from the top of the tower which controlled all air traffic in the Myanmar capital.

As per the news agency, it wasn’t clear if there had been any injuries in the collapse. The tower would have had staff inside of it at the time of the earthquake. It likely also stopped air traffic into the international airport, given all electronics and radar would have been routed into the tower for controllers.

Read More: Another Aftershock With 5.1 Magnitude Hits Myanmar’s Naypyidaw Day After Deadly Tremors

Meanwhile, the flights carrying rescue teams from China have been diverted to Yangon instead of going directly to the airports in the major stricken cities of Mandalay and Naypyidaw.

The death toll crossed the 1,000 mark, while more than 2,300 people were injured, after two massive earthquakes rocked Myanmar and its neighbouring Thailand on Friday afternoon. Besides claiming lives, the earthquakes also took down several buildings, bridges, and a monastery.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck at midday, with an epicentre near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Aftershocks followed, one of them measuring as strong as 6.4 magnitude on the Richter scale.

Read More: ‘Car Started Moving On Its Own…’: Witnesses Recount Horror As Deadly Earthquake Crumbles Bangkok Building

The Myanmar government said that blood was in high demand in the areas that suffered the most destruction. The junta government also sought international aid in the wake of the earthquake. The United Nations allocated USD 5 million to start relief efforts.

(With inputs from AP)