Fri Mar 28 07:30:00 UTC 2025: ## 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Triggers Panic in 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 strongly throughout the city, led to the temporary suspension of public transport, traffic gridlock, and mass evacuations from buildings.

Prem Kishore Mohanty, a resident of Sukhumvit, described the terrifying experience of feeling his daughter’s school auditorium shake violently. “I felt my head spinning, and the chairs were moving,” he recounted to NDTV. The school’s PA system immediately ordered an evacuation to the outdoor field, advising people to avoid buildings, as water cascaded from swimming pools in high-rise towers. Videos circulated online showing this dramatic scene at the InterContinental Bangkok hotel.

While low-rise buildings experienced minimal damage, high-rises were more significantly affected, with reports of belongings falling from shelves and burst pipes. Mr. Mohanty reported a crack in his apartment wall, and recounted his neighbor’s harrowing escape from their 22nd-floor apartment with only their cat.

The earthquake’s impact extended beyond residential areas. A 30-story skyscraper under construction in northern Bangkok collapsed, trapping 43 workers. Despite the significant damage and widespread fear, existing earthquake protocols implemented following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami helped mitigate the chaos.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra cut short an official visit to Phuket to declare a state of emergency and convene an urgent meeting. Tremors were also felt as far away as Yunnan province in China and parts of eastern India. While rare in Bangkok, the earthquake highlighted the city’s vulnerability to seismic activity. The situation remains fluid, with authorities assessing the full extent of the damage and continuing to monitor for aftershocks.

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