On March 28, 2025, a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported it as a 7.7 magnitude quake with a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, centered approximately 50 kilometers east of Monywa, near the Sagaing region.

A 6.4 magnitude aftershock followed shortly after. Tremors were felt across a wide area, including neighboring countries like Thailand (notably Bangkok, 900 km away), Vietnam, China, and potentially Bangladesh, India, and Laos. In Myanmar, reports indicate significant impact in cities like Naypyitaw and Mandalay, with collapsed buildings, damaged roads, and the iconic Ava Bridge in Mandalay reportedly falling into the Irrawaddy River.

In Bangkok, high-rise buildings swayed, a construction site collapsed, and evacuations occurred as water sloshed out of pools. No immediate official casualty or damage reports have emerged from Myanmar, a country currently amidst a civil war, which may complicate response efforts. Myanmar’s location near the Sagaing Fault makes it prone to seismic activity, with historical quakes of similar magnitude occurring infrequently but with notable impact.

In Myanmar, the situation is still unfolding. Social media posts from Mandalay describe collapsed buildings and debris-filled streets, with one unverified account noting a five-story building collapsing. The historic Ava Bridge in Mandalay is said to have collapsed into the Irrawaddy River, though official confirmation is pending. In Naypyitaw, buckled roads and falling ceiling debris have been reported. No official casualty figures or comprehensive damage assessments have been released from Myanmar, likely due to the ongoing civil war disrupting communication and response efforts. The Myanmar Fire Services Department has begun searches in Yangon, but no specific updates on findings have surfaced yet.

Beyond Myanmar, the quake’s reach continues to be felt. In Bangkok, Thailand (900 km away), a high-rise construction site in the Chatuchak district collapsed, with police responding but no casualty details available yet. Evacuations persist, with metro and rail services suspended in parts of the city. Tremors were also reported in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, swaying lights, and in China’s Yunnan province, where the China Earthquake Networks Center measured the quake at 7.9 magnitude. India’s Delhi-NCR region and parts of Laos experienced mild shaking, though no significant damage has been noted there.

The shallow depth (10 km) and proximity to the Sagaing Fault suggest a potentially long rupture, possibly over 100 km, which could amplify damage near the epicenter. Experts note Myanmar’s vulnerability due to poor infrastructure and rapid, unregulated urban development, compounded by the civil conflict. Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has called an emergency meeting to assess impacts, indicating a coordinated response is underway in that country.