Mandalay, Myanmar / Bangkok, Thailand – March 28, 2025: A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted central Myanmar today, its shallow 10-kilometer depth unleashing havoc that rippled across the border into Thailand. Striking near Mandalay, the temblor was followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, leaving a trail of destruction that has stunned both nations. As dusk settled, emergency teams raced against time to rescue survivors and assess the toll.
In Myanmar, the devastation is stark. Early reports from state media pegged the death count at 144, with over 730 injured, though officials fear these figures will rise as more remote areas are reached. In Mandalay, a city steeped in history, the quake toppled structures, including a prominent mosque and sections of ancient pagodas. In Naypyidaw, the capital’s main hospital became a frantic hub, its staff overwhelmed by a flood of casualties. “We’ve lost count of the injured arriving,” a medic confided to local reporters, requesting anonymity amid the chaos.
The military government, grappling with ongoing unrest, declared an emergency across six regions and made a rare plea for global assistance. Roads split open, a century-old bridge in Sagaing crumbled, and power outages darkened swaths of the country. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing appeared briefly at the Naypyidaw hospital, a fleeting presence in a nation already on edge. In Thailand, the quake’s fury reached Bangkok, where a 30-story construction site for a government office collapsed, claiming at least three lives. Dozens remain missing—rescue officials estimate 81 workers are trapped beneath the wreckage. Sirens pierced the air as teams clawed through concrete, their efforts illuminated by portable lights. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt labeled the capital a disaster zone, shutting schools and ordering evacuations while residents braced for aftershocks.
“It felt like the ground was alive,” said Somsak, a Bangkok shopkeeper who watched his shelves topple. The city, unaccustomed to seismic jolts, saw office towers waver and trading halt at the stock exchange. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed the nation from the collapse site, vowing a relentless rescue effort. “Every minute counts,” she said, her tone resolute.
Geologists point to the Sagaing Fault, a restless tectonic line, as the culprit behind the disaster. The U.S. Geological Survey flagged the event as a “red alert,” warning of severe losses across the region, with tremors reported as far as India and China. For Myanmar, already reeling from conflict, the quake is a crushing blow. In Thailand, it’s a jarring wake-up call. As night deepens, the focus remains on the living—pulling them from the ruins and preparing for an uncertain tomorrow.
