On the 28th, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jo Tae-yeol expressed condolences to those affected by the earthquake that occurred in Myanmar and Thailand and indicated a willingness to provide support.
On that day, Minister Jo noted on social media platform X, "The South Korean government is prepared to help and support those affected," adding, "I sincerely hope for the prompt rescue of the victims."
Earlier that day, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, and damage was reported in Bangkok, Thailand, over 1,000 km away from the quake's epicenter. Myanmar has long been considered a seismically active area, as it is situated at the junction of several tectonic plates, including the Indian, Eurasian, and Sunda plates.
Myanmar authorities have not yet disclosed the number of casualties.
According to interviews conducted by The New York Times and AFP, medical staff at a general hospital in Mandalay, the epicenter, reported at least 20 deaths and 300 injuries from there alone.
In Bangkok, Thailand, a high-rise building under construction collapsed, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Prawit Wongsuwon stated that rescue operations are underway, confirming that three people have died and 90 remain missing.