Southeast Asia was struck by a powerful natural disaster on Friday, March 28, 2025, when a massive earthquake shook the region, leaving a trail of destruction and causing widespread concern.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, with its epicenter near Sagaing, Myanmar (Burma), sent tremors across several countries, including Bangladesh, India, Laos, Thailand, and China [User Query].
Right after the earthquake, things looked very bad. Early news said that more than 150 people might have died in Myanmar and Thailand . This shows us how strong nature can be and how easily earthquakes can hurt people in areas where they happen.
Its impact in Myanmar was devastating. Tragically, at least 144 people lost their lives, and over 730 were injured.
Authorities have warned that these figures are likely to rise as rescue efforts continue and the full extent of the damage becomes clear.
The earthquake caused significant damage to infrastructure, particularly in the area around Mandalay. Buildings were reported to have collapsed, and essential transport links were disrupted, including damage to a 90-year-old bridge and parts of a vital highway linking Mandalay and Yangon.
In the capital city of Naypyidaw, a major hospital was overwhelmed with casualties and designated as a “mass casualty zone”, highlighting the scale of the disaster.
Even the historic royal palace in Mandalay suffered damage. The disruption extended to power lines, which were downed in several areas, complicating already challenging rescue operations even further. Adding to the immediate chaos and danger, a powerful 6.4 magnitude aftershock struck just minutes after the initial quake, increasing the risk of further collapses and injuries.
On Friday, seven individuals were miraculously pulled out alive from the rubble. However, at around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the State Audit Office (SAO) temporarily suspended rescue operations at the building site. While initial reports on Friday indicated a higher death toll, officials in Bangkok revised the figures to six deaths, with 22 people reported injured and 101 still missing.
During the ongoing efforts, relatives of many of the missing construction workers gathered near the site, anxiously awaiting any news of their loved ones. While the search for survivors continued, there were some signs of recovery in other parts of the city. By Saturday morning, most of Bangkok’s metro and light rail services had resumed on their normal schedules. However, two light rail lines remained closed, awaiting full safety.
| Date | Time (Local) | Event |
|---|---|---|
|
March 28th |
12:50 PM
|
Magnitude 7.7 earthquake
strikes near Sagaing,
Myanmar.
|
|
March 28th
|
1:20 PM
|
Tremors felt strongly in
Bangkok, Thailand.
|
|
March 28th |
Shortly After |
6.4 magnitude aftershock
recorded in Myanmar.
|
|
March 28th
|
Afternoon |
33-story building under
construction collapses in
Bangkok.
|
|
March 28th |
Evening |
Rescue operations
commence at the collapsed
building in Bangkok |
|
March 29th
|
Morning |
Death toll in Bangkok
revised to six, 101 missing |
|
March 29th
|
Morning |
Most metro and light rail
services resume in Bangkok.
|
|
March 29th
|
6:30 AM
|
Rescue operations |
|
|
|
temporarily suspended at
SAO building site in
Bangkok.
|
Myanmar’s location on the boundary of major tectonic plates means the country has a long history of significant earthquakes. One particularly devastating event was the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Bago in 1930, resulting in the loss of at least 550 lives. In fact, there was another significant earthquake in Bago in 1930, a 7.5 magnitude event in May, which caused even more destruction and tragically triggered a tsunami.
The earthquake on March 28, 2025 is believed to be the most powerful earthquake to have its epicenter in Myanmar since the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck near Maymyo in 1912.
Throughout the 20th century, the Sagaing Fault, the same fault responsible for the recent earthquake, has been the source of numerous other earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater. Historical records also show that a very large earthquake with a magnitude of 8.1 to 8.2 struck near Mandalay in 1839, causing widespread devastation. Understanding this history of powerful earthquakes in Myanmar helps explain the recent event and highlights the ongoing seismic risk in the region.
During an earthquake: If you feel the ground shaking, the most important thing to remember is to drop, cover, and hold on. Drop to your knees to avoid being knocked down. Cover your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris. If possible, get under a sturdy desk or table and hold on to it until the shaking stops. If there is no furniture nearby, move to an inside wall away from windows and mirrors and continue to protect your head and neck. Stay away from windows, mirrors, and heavy objects that could fall and cause injury. If you are outside, find a clear space away from buildings, trees, and power lines and lie down on the ground, protecting your head and neck.
| Phase | Action |
|---|---|
|
During |
Drop to your knees |
|
|
Cover your head and neck with your arms
and get under a sturdy desk or table if
possible.
|
|
Hold On to your shelter until the shaking
stops. If no shelter, move to an interior wall. |
|
|
Stay away from windows, glass, and heavy
objects. |
|
|
If outside, find a clear spot away from
hazards and drop to the ground.
|
|
|
After |
Be prepared for aftershocks; Drop, Cover,
and Hold On if they occur.
|
|
|
Check yourself and others for injuries;
provide first aid if needed.
|
|
|
If in a damaged building, evacuate carefully
using stairs.
|
|
|
Be aware of hazards like debris, broken
glass, and downed power lines.
|
|
|
Listen to local news and emergency |
