Fri Mar 28 07:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Strong Myanmar Earthquake Sends Tremors Across Border, Halting Bangkok

**Bangkok, Thailand** – A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, centered near Mandalay, Myanmar, sent shockwaves across the border into Thailand on Friday afternoon, causing widespread panic and disruption in Bangkok. The tremors, felt throughout the city, led to the temporary suspension of public transport, snarled traffic, and prompted mass evacuations from buildings.

Prem Kishore Mohanty, an Indian national residing in Bangkok, described the terrifying experience of feeling his daughter’s school auditorium shake violently. “I felt my head spinning,” he told NDTV, recounting how the school initiated an immediate evacuation to the outdoor field, advising people to avoid high-rise buildings due to cascading water from overflowing swimming pools. Videos circulating on social media showed this phenomenon occurring at the InterContinental Bangkok hotel.

The earthquake’s impact varied depending on building type. While low-rise structures remained largely unaffected, high-rises experienced more significant damage, with reports of belongings falling from cupboards and burst pipelines. A 30-story skyscraper under construction collapsed in northern Bangkok, trapping 43 workers.

The suddenness of the event led to chaotic evacuations, with Mr. Mohanty describing his family’s hasty escape from their apartment building using the fire escape. Even in his building, damage was unevenly distributed; his apartment sustained only a minor crack, while his neighbor on a higher floor had to flee with only his pet cat after his bed shifted across the room.

While rare in Bangkok, pre-existing earthquake protocols, implemented following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, were activated. The Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, interrupted an official visit to declare a state of emergency and convene an urgent meeting. The tremors were also felt in parts of eastern India and China’s Yunnan province.

The Indian Embassy in Thailand reported that no Indian citizens have been affected so far, but advised any nationals requiring assistance to contact a dedicated emergency number. While the immediate impact is being assessed, the earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of seismic activity, even in regions typically considered low-risk.

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