A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday March 28, causing widespread damage in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. The quake, recorded at a depth of 10 km by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where several buildings shook, and in parts of India and Bangladesh.
In Mandalay, parts of the historic former royal palace suffered damage, and multiple buildings collapsed. The Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, reported the collapse of a 90-year-old bridge and damage to sections of the highway linking Mandalay to Yangon. In the capital Naypyitaw, religious shrines and homes sustained damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention confirmed that the quake was felt across almost all regions of the country. In Bangkok, a 30-storey under-construction building collapsed, trapping 43 workers. Emergency responders rescued seven people, but two were confirmed dead.
China’s Xinhua news agency reported strong tremors in Yunnan province, but no casualties. In India, tremors were felt in West Bengal and Manipur, while Bangladesh reported seismic activity following a 7.3 magnitude quake.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency meeting to assess the situation. Myanmar, prone to earthquakes, has seen multiple quakes in quick succession, with the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reporting another 7.5 magnitude tremor earlier in the day.
Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities assess the full extent of the damage across the affected regions.