On Friday, two powerful back-to-back earthquakes of magnitudes 7.7 and 6.4 struck Myanmar. The earthquake sent tremors across neighbouring countries, including Thailand, Bangladesh, and China’s Yunnan province. The impact was so severe that Bangkok, nearly 900 kilometres away, went into lockdown following the tremors.
According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the first earthquake struck Myanmar at 11:50 AM (local time) at a depth of 10 kilometres, with coordinates recorded at Latitude 21.93 N and Longitude 96.07 E. The quake’s epicentre was near Sagaing, a region known for seismic activity. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), NCS confirmed the earthquake, posting, “EQ of M: 7.2, On: 28/03/2025 11:50:52 IST, Lat: 21.93 N, Long: 96.07 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Myanmar.”
EQ of M: 7.2, On: 28/03/2025 11:50:52 IST, Lat: 21.93 N, Long: 96.07 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Myanmar.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/Yu9tQjs9oI— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) March 28, 2025
The force of the earthquake caused widespread devastation in Myanmar. The iconic Ava Bridge in Mandalay reportedly collapsed into the Irrawaddy River, and multiple buildings crumbled due to the massive shocks. Meanwhile, in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, a high-rise under construction in the Chatuchak district collapsed, trapping over 40 workers. Emergency teams rushed to the site, but the exact number of casualties remains unknown.
Bangkok earthquake right now #bangkok #earthquake #bkknews #bkk #แผ่นดินไหว #deprem #myanmar
Myanmar’da 7.7 şiddetinde deprem meydana geldi… pic.twitter.com/9TtEGNutfg
— bahisşikayet (@Bahis_sikayetim) March 28, 2025
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the tremors forced people to flee their homes and workplaces in panic. “I was sleeping in the house, and then I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building,” a resident of Chiang Mai, Thailand, told AFP.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration immediately declared an emergency, shutting down metro services, airports, and subways. Many businesses closed for the day, and several buildings were evacuated due to fears of aftershocks. Tourists and residents alike experienced moments of terror as buildings swayed, and water sloshed out of pools from high-rises.
Meanwhile, in Myanmar’s capital, reports emerged that a major hospital had been designated a “mass casualty area” due to the influx of injured people. Authorities in Myanmar are still assessing the full extent of the damage, as rescue operations are underway.
The tremors were also felt in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, where the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) reported the quake at a magnitude of 7.9, slightly higher than other agencies’ readings. “Tremors were felt in Yunnan,” CENC posted on social media.
A dramatic video circulating on social media showed the moment a multi-story building in Bangkok collapsed, with a crane on top crashing down into a cloud of dust as people ran for safety. “The ground shook violently, and we felt dizzy as the walls creaked,” said Fraser Morton, a Scottish tourist in Bangkok.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties in Myanmar and Thailand. The authorities urged people to stay outdoors as aftershocks continued. The earthquakes have caused panic and destruction across the Southeast Asian region, with emergency teams working tirelessly to assess the situation and provide relief to those affected.
