A massive earthquake kills more than 150 people in Myanmar and Thailand.

A massive earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, killing over 150 people and wounding hundreds, leaving scores trapped in fallen buildings with the death toll anticipated to grow.

The shallow 7.7-magnitude tremor struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar in the early afternoon, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock minutes later.

The tremor destroyed buildings, bridges, and highways across Myanmar, as well as a 30-story skyscraper under construction hundreds of kilometers (miles) away in Bangkok.

While the entire scope of the disaster remains unknown, the leader of isolated Myanmar, which is embroiled in a civil conflict, has made a rare appeal for foreign assistance.

Junta head Min Aung Hlaing announced that 144 people had been murdered and 732 had been injured, but cautioned that the toll was “likely to rise”. There have been eight confirmed deaths in Thailand, with more likely.

“In some places, some buildings collapsed,” he remarked in a broadcast speech after visiting a hospital in Naypyidaw.

“I’d want to welcome any country, organization, or individual from Myanmar to come and aid. “Thank you.”

He advocated major humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of the tragedy and stated that he had “opened all avenues for foreign aid”.