Fri Mar 28 10:28:03 UTC 2025: ## Devastating 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Triggers Chaos Across Southeast Asia

**Yangon, Myanmar/Bangkok, Thailand – March 28, 2025** – A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread devastation and triggering panic across Southeast Asia. The quake, with its epicenter 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing at a depth of 10 kilometers, resulted in at least 20 confirmed deaths in Myanmar, with the number expected to rise.

The impact extended far beyond Myanmar’s borders. Tremors were felt strongly in northern Thailand, leading to the suspension of some metro and rail services in Bangkok. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency in the capital. Strong tremors were also reported in China’s Yunnan province and weaker tremors in Kolkata, India, parts of Manipur, and Dhaka and Chattogram in Bangladesh.

In Myanmar, a 1,000-bed hospital in Naypyidaw became a mass casualty area, while a mosque in Mandalay collapsed during prayers, resulting in multiple fatalities. A university building in Mandalay also caught fire. The Myanmar junta declared a state of emergency and appealed for international aid. Images and videos circulating on social media showed the collapse of an old bridge over the Irrawaddy River, residential buildings in Mandalay, and a significant portion of a 30-story skyscraper under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak neighborhood. At least 78 workers are reported trapped in the rubble of the Bangkok building, with three deaths confirmed at the site.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India offered assistance, stating that Indian authorities were on standby to help.

The earthquake’s impact highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure in the region. Videos from across the affected areas show widespread panic as buildings swayed violently, with people fleeing into the streets. One particularly harrowing video depicted water cascading from a Bangkok infinity pool.

Myanmar, situated along the Sagaing Fault, is prone to seismic activity. While this is not the strongest quake to hit the region historically, the shallow depth and intensity of this quake has caused severe damage. The country’s strained medical system, particularly in rural areas, further complicates the relief efforts. International aid is urgently needed.

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