A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay on March 28, 2025, at approximately 12:50 PM local time. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, leading to significant structural damage and casualties.
Mandalay was one of the worst-hit areas, with numerous buildings collapsing, including a mosque where at least 10 fatalities were reported. Roads and historic structures suffered extensive damage. In Naypyidaw, the capital, buckled roads and partial ceiling collapses were reported. Several homes and religious shrines were damaged, and hospitals are struggling to manage the influx of injured individuals. In Taungoo Township, a school that was being used as a shelter for displaced persons collapsed, trapping more than 20 children.
The earthquake’s impact was felt beyond Myanmar, with tremors reaching as far as Bangkok, nearly 1,000 kilometers away. In the Thai capital, a 30-story skyscraper under construction in the Chatuchak district collapsed, killing at least one person and trapping 43 workers. The Thai government declared a state of emergency, mobilizing emergency services and suspending trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
In China’s Yunnan province, the quake caused damage to houses in the border city of Ruili, with reports of injuries. The tremors also reached Vietnam and India, prompting evacuations in cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Delhi-National Capital Region.
Rescue operations are ongoing in Myanmar and Thailand, with emergency services racing to find survivors amid the destruction. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage. International aid organizations are preparing to assist in relief efforts.
