A massive earthquake struck central Myanmar today at approximately 12:50 PM local time (06:20 UTC), registering a magnitude of 7.7 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing, near the city of Mandalay, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, amplifying its destructive potential. A significant aftershock of 6.4 magnitude followed just 12 minutes later, further rattling the region. As of this moment, the full scope of the disaster is still unfolding, with reports of casualties, collapsed buildings, and widespread panic emerging from Myanmar and neighboring countries.
Devastation in Myanmar
In Myanmar, the quake has caused significant damage, particularly in the Mandalay and Sagaing regions. Eyewitnesses in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, described chaotic scenes as buildings swayed violently. “We all ran out of the house as everything started shaking. I witnessed a five-story building collapse in front of my eyes,” one resident told Reuters. Social media footage shows debris-strewn streets, damaged pagodas, and the collapsed Ava Bridge, a historic structure spanning the Irrawaddy River. Local reports indicate at least 20 deaths in Mandalay alone, including 10 from a mosque collapse, though these figures remain unverified.
WILD FOOTAGE 🔴
The moment the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital and third-largest city.
In the capital, Naypyidaw, a major hospital has been designated a “mass casualty area” as injured residents flood in. A doctor at the facility told AFP, “Many injured people have been arriving—I haven’t seen anything like this before. We’re exhausted.” The hospital’s emergency department reportedly sustained heavy damage, complicating rescue efforts. Myanmar’s military junta has declared a state of emergency across six regions, including Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Sagaing, promising swift inquiries and humanitarian aid. However, the country’s ongoing civil war and strained infrastructure may hinder relief operations.
Mandalay airport significantly damaged after 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits central Myanmar.
The epicenter of the quake was registered by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as 16 km north-northwest of Sagaing at 1:20 PM local time, at a depth of 10 km. It also said the… pic.twitter.com/58SLIuawYm
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Regional Impact: Bangkok in Chaos
The earthquake’s reach extended far beyond Myanmar, with tremors felt across Southeast Asia. In Bangkok, Thailand—over 1,400 kilometers from the epicenter—a 30-story skyscraper under construction in the Chatuchak district collapsed, killing at least two workers and trapping dozens more. Rescue teams are combing through the rubble, with seven survivors pulled out so far, according to Thai emergency responders. “The crane on top came crashing down, and a massive plume of dust filled the air,” said Songwut Wangpon, a rescue worker on the scene.
Hundreds of Bangkok residents evacuated high-rise buildings as water sloshed from rooftop pools and debris fell from skyscrapers. “All of a sudden the whole building began to move—there was screaming and panic,” said Fraser Morton, a Scottish tourist caught in a shopping mall. The city has been declared a disaster area, with metro and light rail services suspended and the Stock Exchange of Thailand halting trading for the day. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has called an emergency meeting to assess the situation and prepare for potential aftershocks.
Beyond Borders
The quake’s effects rippled across the region. In southwestern China’s Yunnan province, bordering Myanmar, strong tremors damaged homes in Ruili, injuring at least two people. Tremors were also reported in Vietnam’s Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as in Bangladesh’s Dhaka and India’s northeastern states. In Delhi, residents felt shaking around 11:50 AM IST, prompting evacuations. No major damage has been reported in these areas so far, but the scale of the event has heightened regional alertness.
Geological Context
Myanmar sits astride the Sagaing Fault, a major tectonic boundary where the Burma and Sunda plates slide past each other. Today’s quake, one of the strongest in the country’s history, aligns with this fault’s history of producing destructive events, including a 7.9 magnitude tremor in 1912. Experts suggest the shallow depth and strike-slip faulting mechanism intensified the shaking. The USGS notes this is the most powerful quake globally since 2023, with energy equivalent to over 5 million tons of TNT.
Ongoing Developments
As night falls in Myanmar, rescue operations are underway, but information remains scarce due to the country’s limited communication networks and political instability. The international community, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has offered assistance, with Modi tweeting, “India stands ready to offer all possible help.” Thailand’s government is mobilizing resources to support Bangkok’s recovery, while seismologists monitor for additional aftershocks.
This is a developing story. With the situation evolving rapidly, the death toll and damage estimates are expected to rise. Stay tuned for updates as rescue efforts continue and the region grapples with the aftermath of this catastrophic event.
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