Fri Mar 28 12:20:08 UTC 2025: ## Devastating 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Triggers Chaos Across Southeast Asia

**Naypyidaw, Myanmar/Bangkok, Thailand –** A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Sagaing, Myanmar, on March 28, 2025, causing widespread devastation and triggering a state of emergency in Bangkok, Thailand. The quake, which also registered as a 7.9 magnitude quake in China’s Yunnan province, sent tremors across the region, affecting northern Thailand, parts of India, and Bangladesh.

At least 20 deaths have been confirmed at a 1,000-bed hospital in Naypyidaw, with doctors fearing the death toll could reach the hundreds. The hospital itself suffered significant damage, with its entrance crushed by fallen concrete and injured patients being treated in the streets. Images showed a chaotic scene with people receiving treatment on makeshift gurneys amidst family members.

Beyond Naypyidaw, the earthquake caused significant damage in Mandalay, Myanmar, including the collapse of an old bridge over the Irrawaddy River and numerous residential buildings. A monastery on the Myanmar-Thailand border was also destroyed.

In Thailand, the earthquake caused widespread panic. Bangkok’s metro system was temporarily suspended after violent shaking was reported. A 30-story building under construction in Chatuchak collapsed, trapping at least 43 people, with three confirmed deaths. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency in the city. Deputy Police Chief Worapat Sukthai of Bang Sue district estimated hundreds of injuries from the building collapse.

Tremors were also felt in Kolkata and parts of Manipur in India, and in Dhaka and Chattogram in Bangladesh, though the extent of damage in those areas remains unclear. Videos circulating online showed buildings swaying violently in Bangkok and other affected cities.

The earthquake’s impact highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure across the region and underscores the urgent need for rescue and relief efforts. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue in both Myanmar and Thailand.

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