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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

USGS: 7.7 Magnitude Quake Rocks Myanmar And Thailand; U.S. Secretary Of State: U.S. May Have Revoked 300+ Visas; Judge Orders Administration To Preserve Chat Records. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 28, 2025 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:00:20]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: And you are watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rahel Solomon, where we are following breaking news this hour.

A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake has rocked Myanmar and Thailand. Officials in Bangkok say that one person is dead, 50 others are hurt in a collapsed building in the capital. And the prime minister there declaring the capital city an emergency zone.

CNN photojournalist Mark Phillips in Bangkok says that the tremors were violent. A resident of the city shot this video when you can see water splashing out of a rooftop pool there on the high-rise apartment building next door. The USGS says that the quake had a depth of 10 kilometers, or six miles. A large aftershock of 6.4 magnitude happened about 12 miles after the initial quake.

Let's bring in CNN's Hanako Montgomery, who joins us live this hour in Osaka, Japan.

Hanako, give us a sense of what's the latest you're hearing? What are you -- what are you learning?

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Rahel.

As you just described, a very large earthquake hit Myanmar when that measured about 7.7 in magnitude. And the earthquake was so powerful that it was felt in neighboring Thailand and also China.

Now, as you just described, at least one person has died in Thailand. And at least 50 people we know have been injured. We actually don't know how many are actually currently missing.

Now, of those people who died and also were injured, they were all victims of this very large building that came tumbling down.

Now, I think you just saw that video, but this video shows there's a building under construction, very, very tall. And as soon as that very powerful earthquake hits, this building comes crashing down with dust billowing out, construction workers literally running for their lives in the opposite direction as the ground below them is trembling. Very, very frightening for these individuals.

Now, in another video, we saw that a very tall skyscraper, a very tall building with a swimming pool on top, had the water coming down as though it was a waterfall.

Again, a very, very frightening experience for those residents in Bangkok.

Now, in terms of Myanmar, where the earthquakes epicenter is actually located, we know that it occurred and it was hit in the city of Mandalay. Now, Mandalay is actually the historical and religious capital of Myanmar. About -- there are about 1 million residents there, and it is home to many, many temples. And it really has a very rich history.

But, of course, we don't actually know how many of those buildings are still intact because, again, of this very powerful earthquake. And, Rahel, of course, it's important to note that there is a civil war going on in Myanmar right now.

So, the information coming in and out of the country is very limited. We don't know how many people have died. We don't know how many people have fallen victim to this very powerful earthquake and also the aftershock that happened after it.

But we do know, according to one resident who was there and the earthquake hit about 1:00 p.m., they said that the electricity went out and it was very frightening, and it felt as though they were going to die. Now, also important to note is that Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Asia, and they don't actually have the infrastructure to withstand these sorts of very powerful earthquakes.

So there's a lot of fear -- fear here, Rahel, that there could be a lot more injured and potentially a lot more dead. And now the fire brigade has been dispatched in Myanmar, and they are currently looking for any remaining survivors or any people who might need help for help -- Rahel.

SOLOMON: All right. Hanako Montgomery live for us here in Osaka -- Hanako, we will check back with -- with you shortly. Stay with us.

In the meantime, I want to now go to Singapore. And joining us now is Shengji Wei. She's an associate. He -- excuse me, is an associate professor at the Asian School of the Environment.

Great to have you this morning. Just your first reactions as we continue to learn more about this earthquake.

SHENGJI WEI, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, SINGAPORE: Yes. When I first saw the news, I -- well, it is not an unexpected event based on our research. So, myself and the other teams in our institute, we have been investigating the seismic hazard in Myanmar since about ten years ago. So, the earthquake took place along the segment of the Sagaing fault, which is a plate boundary type of fault. It's a major fault in Myanmar. This fault has hosted a big earthquakes in the past few hundred years,

and it has been quiet since about 200 years ago. And based on these historical studies as well as modern geophysical investigations, we know that this place, this segment of the fault is likely to rupture as a big earthquake in the near future. So we have been communicating with the Myanmar government, as well as local scientists highlighting the potential high risk, seismic risk along this segment of the fault.

[05:05:12]

SOLOMON: And --

WEI: So, this earthquake to us is not unexpected.

SOLOMON: Yeah.

And to that point, I mean, as our reporter was just sort of discussing and alluding to there -- I mean, this was something that you and your researchers and team had been tracking the science community, perhaps had been expecting. But obviously, the domestic politics in Myanmar right now, the situation on the ground there, perhaps made it more challenging for officials there to perhaps pay attention, as you say, to the warnings that you've been trying to issue.

WEI: Exactly. Well, given the political and also the economic status of the country I think the multiple cities along the Sagaing fault is, is very vulnerable and kind of at the high seismic risk. So, yeah, we as scientists, we try our best to provide the best scientific information to the stakeholders.

SOLOMON: And just give me a sense -- I mean, 7.7 magnitude. Give me a sense of what that means. And just as far as we know that it's been felt, you know, the edges of China, Bangkok. I mean, just sort of put that in context for us.

WEI: Sure, sure.

Given the size of the magnitude as well as preliminary, seismological results that we know, this earthquake probably produce the rupture along more than 300 -- at least 300 kilometers long. It ruptured these -- long distance along the fault. It probably, it's very close to the major cities, like Mandalay, Naypyidaw and other smaller cities along the fault.

Besides those near fault cities, major cities, nearby countries like Thailand, and probably part of China's -- Yunnan province of China, they might have felt strong shaking as well, because the earthquake is big enough to produce very strong shaking. Even hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter.

SOLOMON: All right. We're going to leave it here. Shengji Wei, we appreciate you being with us this morning. Thank you.

And for now, I want to go to Jack Brown, who saw firsthand what played out after the quake hit in Bangkok. He is speaking with us now from the capital. Jack, great to have you this morning. We can see what appears to be

motorcycles or people just sort of rushing by. You give me a sense of what it's like, where you are and what you're seeing and hearing.

JACK BROWN, WITNESSED BUILDING COLLAPSE: Good morning, America. Yes. It's -- it's been quite an ordeal, to be honest with you. I was on my way to a client meeting on an elevated expressway. When what I initially thought was a burst tire in the car because it was sort of swaying a bit.

So, I pulled over to the left hand side, and I noticed a lot of the other cars around me were doing the same. People were driving quite haphazardly and we couldn't really understand or understand the time, what was happening. And when I stopped the car and the car was still moving quite a lot, then I realized immediately, it's an earthquake.

So, people were still sort of driving very slowly, confused. Everyone just didn't really know what they were doing. Nobody was driving orderly. And then suddenly we just seen the collapse of the building right in front of us on the left-hand side, which is an area called Chatuchak, near very famous Chatuchak markets.

It was a building which is currently under construction. And the whole thing just collapsed. And obviously, my initial thought was that if anybody is in that building, then 100 percent, it's going to be fatalities for sure. And what I found out later on was, sadly, there's still 67 people unaccounted for in that building. Rescue efforts are underway, but Bangkok now is absolute gridlock.

Every, you know, there's a lot of high rise in Bangkok, apartments, offices. People are outside of those buildings now, I think, waiting for the go-ahead to reenter the buildings. So, I think everyone is just sort of just stuck waiting, really. You can see by the traffic in the car here, nothing's moving.

I've been sat in the car for two hours now. Can't really go anywhere. Theres a lot of emergency service vehicles trying to get through people on foot. Despite the 39 degree heat. You know, I think people are just -- just waiting, really, of the unsure if there's going to be any aftershocks. Theres talk about there could be additional aftershocks and things like this.

SOLOMON: Yeah. And just, you know, for people who perhaps have not been to Bangkok, I mean, just give us a sense. I mean, it is a very busy city really, at all hours of the day.

So, so when this happened -- I mean, you were there to actually witness what -- what appeared to be a building collapse.

[05:10:05]

But just sort of give me the sense of the reaction you were seeing, what you were hearing. And just the fear that this obviously, as we look at this video, this would have caused in such a busy city.

BROWN: Sure. I mean, earthquakes are not common in Bangkok or in Thailand. I've been living here for over ten years. This is the first earthquake I've ever experienced here, so I think it took most people off guard. You know, people weren't expecting it or they didn't recognize the signs of an earthquake.

So, I think originally, a lot of people probably thought it was their car or they felt dizzy or something, you know, and a lot of confused, confused people, a lot of panic, I think, especially when seeing the building coming down.

People got out of their cars immediately on the expressway. It just came to a standstill. There was a lot of fear, a lot of panic, because people don't know what's going to happen next.

Are any other buildings going to come down? Are there any flow on effects? On an expressway even, which is elevated, is that going to crumble? Obviously, people are frightened, very concerned.

SOLOMON: Yeah, yeah. And we're looking at video. I'm not sure if you can see it, Jack, but a video that you shot and what appears to be -- what I'm imagining, if you can see it, please correct me if I'm wrong, that that building collapsed, perhaps in the distance there, as you were making your way away from that area.

So, so, Jack, what is your plan now? I mean, obviously, there's -- there's the fear of an aftershock or what may come in, in the near hours or near days. But what's your plan? Where are you going? What are you planning to do? How do you plan to stay safe?

BROWN: I had plans to meet with clients this afternoon, both in high- rise buildings. So that immediately got postponed. I've seen that there's warnings coming out for people to stay away from the city, to alleviate the rescue efforts. And also, to stay away from high rise buildings. I've seen that some buildings are damaged, and I -- I guess the authorities or people dont know if those buildings are safe to reenter yet.

So, for me, I'm -- I've turned around. I'm in the car. My girlfriend's driving, trying to return back to our office, but like I said, the last two, 2-1/2 hours is just gridlock. We've moved about two kilometers, I believe. So, I think everyone's trying to get away from the city as quickly as they can, but there's just really nowhere to go.

SOLOMON: Yeah, absolutely. And then just talk to me a little bit more about. I mean, we can see that that traffic appears to be picking up. I mean, do -- do things appear to be at least picking up steam in terms of the transportation situation? I mean, the only real people that I've been able to see past you are those on motorcycles or, you know, on two wheels. But just give me a sense of what -- what you're seeing right now, where you are.

BROWN: Traffic is very, very slow. The direction I'm going is to get out of the city. The direction coming in is just not moving whatsoever. Apart from motorcycles. So, I don't know how long it's going to last until, you know, this disruption is sort of alleviates, but -- yeah, I think it's going to be a long time yet. It's not getting better. It's just crawling traffic.

SOLOMON: Okay, Jack Brown, we --

BROWN: I'm not sure -- yeah.

SOLOMON: I'm sorry. Go on, finish your thought.

BROWN: I'm not sure if the rail transport systems are back up and running again yet. We've got sky rail in the underground. I know that those services were paused. I don't know if they are, if they've been resumed yet or not, but perhaps that would alleviate some of the congestion.

SOLOMON: Yeah, yeah. Jack Brown, we -- we appreciate you being with us live from Bangkok. It is obviously a beautiful city. We're certainly thinking about everyone there this morning. This afternoon where you are, we -- we -- we're glad that you could be with us this morning. Stay safe.

BROWN: Thank you very much. Thank you.

SOLOMON: And stay with CNN. We'll be right back.

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[05:18:15]

SOLOMON: Welcome back and back to our breaking news out of central Myanmar, which was struck by a powerful 7.7 magnitude quake a short time ago. That's according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Video on social media shows a Buddhist temple collapsing in Mandalay following the earthquake.

Here are people screaming there. Several people telling "Reuters" that they watched buildings crumble to the ground, and tremors were felt as far away as Thailand's capital, Bangkok, where this video shows another building coming to the ground caving in.

Myanmar was hit by a strong aftershock of 6.4 magnitude around 12 minutes after the initial quake. And we continue to monitor reports of any damage and, of course, any fatalities. We will keep you updated throughout the hour.

In other news this morning, the U.S. secretary of state has a warning for some people with U.S. issued visas. Marco Rubio says that the Trump administration may have revoked more than 300 visas so far, and more people could have them taken away soon. He says that it's because they are, quote, lunatics involved in destructive actions.

Here's the secretary at a press conference in Guyana on Thursday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa. REPORTER: You're saying it could be more than 300 visas?

RUBIO: I mean, at some point, I hope we run out because we've gotten rid of all of them. But we're looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up. And, by the way, we want to get rid of gang members, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Turkish PhD student Rumaysa Ozturk is among those whose visas has been revoked. She's being held without charge at an immigration enforcement facility in Louisiana. Plainclothes immigration agents arrested her in Massachusetts. U.S. government alleges that she supports.

Hamas Rubio doubling down on the allegation just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUBIO: There's a clear distinction between protesting against the democratic order and protesting in favor of groups that advocate the slaughter and murder of innocent people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:20:11]

SOLOMON: CNN's Priscilla Alvarez has more now on the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN REPORTER: Rumeysa Ozturk is the latest in a string of arrests in the United States of foreign nationals linked to prestigious universities and purported to be related or have ties to a terrorist organization.

Now, the administration is using an obscure law to target these individuals. It gives the Secretary of State authority to revoke a visa if that individual or individuals is believed to have an adverse foreign policy consequence. Now, there are no charges against Rumeysa, according to her attorney. She was here legally.

The Department of Homeland Security, which has not provided evidence, said the following in a statement. Quote, "DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas."

They go on to say, "glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated."

Now, as you see in the video, she was approached by plainclothes officers while she was walking. And it was then that they detained her, arrested her, and then detained her. This was an issue that came up in court where a judge said that she should not be moved out of Massachusetts.

The Department of Homeland Security saying, however, that they had already moved her to an ICE facility in Louisiana. She becomes the third student to be detained in that facility. Her family believes that it is an op-ed that she wrote last year that has served as the basis for this where she criticized the response to the pro- Palestinian movement.

Her brother saying in a statement, quote, it seems that she has been subjected to the activities of ICE, which has been on a witch hunt in the post-Trump period against those who support Palestine. Going on to say that the land of the free, the freedom of expression and the freedom of belief are under or rather that they have been targeted.

Now, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio did weigh in on this and he has suggested that there are more to come saying that there may have been more than 300 visas to date that have been revoked.

Now, again, the secretary of state here is critical in the invoking of this law to again revoke visas from those who they deem could be national security threats. But the major concern with immigrant advocates and immigration attorneys is that there is not evidence that is being provided to justify or serve as the basis for this. Or at times the evidence that is being presented is flimsy and that has been a major concern. It is also part of ongoing lawsuits, but certainly the administration indicating that they are not backing down anytime soon.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: Okay. Priscilla, thank you.

A U.S. federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to preserve the group chat messages from top officials discussing plans for an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. A watchdog group is suing to prevent the text from being auto deleted by the signal app, or otherwise destroyed. The administration says that federal agencies are already working to locate and preserve the chat.

Judge James Boasberg is overseeing the case. He recently drew the anger of the Trump administration over his handling of a challenge to the deportation of Venezuelan migrants. Former Trump attorney ty cobb explains why preserving the text is important.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TY COBB, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE ATTORNEY: Everybody on that group chat had an obligation under the Federal Records Act and the Presidential Records Act, you know, to transfer that text chain to their, government accounts and preserve it under those statutes. I think it will be interesting, perhaps telling whether those whether those records were preserved.

And keep in mind that with regard to Goldberg's thread that he preserved, he -- he came in late and opted out early, once he realized what was -- what was -- what was going on. So, he doesn't have the entire, you know, string. He only has the string that, you know, he was captured during the time that he had.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Greenland, meantime, is gearing up for the arrival of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance in the coming hours. As leaders there condemn President Trump's bid to buy the self- governing Danish territory.

Here's what he said Wednesday.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's an island that, from a defensive posture and even offensive posture, is something we need, especially with the world the way it is, and we're going to have to have it. And so, I hate to put it that way, but we're going to have to have it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Now, the itinerary for the Vances is dramatically changed as outrage over the trip grew in Greenland. They will no longer go to one of the world's foremost dogsled races. The pair is now set to visit a U.S. base and meet service members. A Danish lawmaker says that Trump wants Greenland simply to expand U.S. territory.

[05:25:03]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERS VISTISEN, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: America have had security bases and military installations in Greenland since 1940. They have decided themselves to scale back their military presence. If they wanted to upscale that for any serious reason, they will not be any objections from Denmark or Greenland? There's no obstacles in getting American companies to mine Greenland. Actually, the Greenlandic home rule government encouraged that. So, there's really no other argument for this persistence than Donald Trump wanting to enlarge his territory and apparently enlarging it by taking it from a -- from a -- from an allied nation, the Kingdom of Denmark.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: We are also learning that the Vances will be joined by national security adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Republican Senator Mike Lee, a vocal supporter of President Trump's plan for Greenland.

All right. We'll take a quick break. Stay with us. We'll be right back.

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