Mandalay, Myanmar – A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake jolted central Myanmar and northern Thailand on March 28, 2025, claiming at least 45 lives and injuring hundreds across the two nations. The powerful quake, which struck at 1:30 PM local time, has left a trail of destruction, with collapsed buildings, shattered infrastructure, and widespread fear gripping the region.
The epicenter was pinpointed 50 kilometers southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, at a depth of just 10 kilometers, amplifying its destructive force. Tremors rippled through northern Thailand, reaching Chiang Mai and Bangkok, where a partially constructed 25-story residential tower crumbled, killing five workers and trapping others. Thai emergency services have deployed heavy machinery to the site, but officials fear the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue into the night.
In Myanmar, the situation is dire. State media reported that at least 30 people perished in Mandalay alone, where historic temples and modern structures alike succumbed to the shaking. Communication lines are down in many areas, and the ongoing civil war has hampered the junta’s ability to coordinate a response. Local residents have taken to social media, sharing images of cracked roads, toppled power lines, and families huddled in open fields to avoid falling debris.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department issued an aftershock warning, urging citizens to avoid damaged buildings. In Chiang Mai, a popular tourist destination, several hotels evacuated guests after cracks appeared in walls, though no fatalities have been reported there yet. The Thai government has pledged $10 million in immediate relief funds and is working with the Red Cross to provide shelter and food to those displaced.
Seismologists attribute the quake to movement along the Sagaing Fault, a major tectonic boundary known for its seismic activity. “This is a significant event, and we expect aftershocks in the coming hours and days,” said Dr. Somsak Kittisupakorn, a geophysicist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. The last major earthquake in the region, a 6.8 magnitude event in 2011, killed over 70 people in Myanmar’s Shan State.
International aid organizations are mobilizing, with the United Nations dispatching a disaster assessment team to Myanmar. Neighboring countries, including Laos and Bangladesh, also reported feeling the tremors but have not yet confirmed significant damage.
As night falls, survivors in both nations are bracing for a difficult recovery. “We’ve lost everything,” said Aung Myint, a shopkeeper in Mandalay, standing amid the ruins of his home. “All we can do now is wait for help.”
More details will follow as authorities assess the full scope of this tragedy.
