A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, sending shockwaves across Southeast Asia and toppling buildings as far away as Bangkok, Thailand. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), had its epicenter near the city of Mandalay, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Monywa.
The tremor sparked panic across the region, with hundreds of people fleeing swaying buildings in Bangkok, 1,400 kilometers from the epicenter. Myanmar’s state-run MRTV announced that the military-led government had issued an emergency proclamation covering the capital, Naypyitaw, and Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city.
Eyewitness accounts described devastating scenes in Mandalay, where several buildings crumbled under the force of the quake. A hospital in the capital also sustained significant damage while struggling to treat an influx of mass casualties.
In Taungoo, at least three people were reportedly killed when a mosque collapsed, according to witnesses cited by Reuters. Meanwhile, local media reported that two others lost their lives and 20 more were injured when a hotel collapsed in the town of Aung Ban.
So far, Myanmar authorities have not officially confirmed the casualty figures.
The quake was followed by several aftershocks, further heightening fears of additional destruction. The tremors were felt across neighboring countries, including Thailand, where residents in Bangkok described the rare experience of buildings swaying for several seconds.
Emergency services in Myanmar have launched a race against time to rescue civilians trapped under rubble and stabilize damaged infrastructure near the quake’s epicenter.
The earthquake has drawn concern from the international community, with humanitarian organizations monitoring the situation closely. Efforts to provide immediate relief and assess the full extent of the damage are underway, though communication lines in some affected areas remain disrupted.
As Myanmar grapples with the aftermath of this devastating quake, the focus remains on saving lives, providing aid to the injured, and rebuilding the shattered communities near the epicenter.
