Fri Mar 28 19:14:21 UTC 2025: **Powerful Earthquake Devastates Myanmar, Causing Widespread Damage and Thousands of Potential Casualties**
Naypyitaw, Myanmar – A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, causing extensive damage and shaking neighboring Thailand. The quake, centered near Mandalay in the Sagaing region, is considered the largest to hit Myanmar’s mainland in over 75 years, according to earthquake experts at University College London.
The shallow depth of the quake, just 10 kilometers, amplified its destructive power. Experts explain that the shockwaves were not dissipated before reaching the surface, resulting in severe damage to buildings unprepared for such intense shaking. The earthquake’s epicenter was along the boundary between the India and Eurasia plates, a region prone to “strike-slip” quakes that, while less powerful than subduction zone quakes, can still reach significant magnitudes.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates potential fatalities between 10,000 and 100,000, with the economic impact potentially reaching 70% of Myanmar’s GDP. This dire prediction stems from the relative rarity of large earthquakes in the Sagaing region, meaning infrastructure is not built to withstand such seismic forces. The last major quake in the area occurred in 1956.
Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has been shown inspecting the damage. Images depict collapsed buildings and damaged roads in the affected areas. The situation remains critical, with rescue and relief efforts underway. The full extent of the damage and casualties is still being assessed.
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