Violent earthquake hits Myanmar, triggers panic in Thailand

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake has struck central Myanmar, on Friday March 28, 2025.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), confirmed this incident on Friday.

The earthquake is said to have caused widespread panic and destruction in the war-torn country.

According to Cable News Network (CNN), the tremor was felt as far as Thailand and China, leading to the collapse of buildings and disruptions in major cities.

The epicenter of the quake was in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, near the country’s second-largest city, Mandalay, which has a population of about one million people.

Reports indicate that roads buckled in the capital, Naypyidaw, while several structures were damaged, forcing residents to flee for safety.

The impact of the earthquake extended beyond Myanmar’s borders, with Thailand experiencing severe tremors.

In Bangkok, Thailand’s Prime Minister has declared an emergency zone after a high-rise building under construction collapsed, killing one person and injuring at least 50 others.

Videos shared online captured the moment people fled swaying buildings as dust filled the air.

Video also shows that residents were seen runny out of buildings in fear.

A witness described the quake as “very sudden and very strong,” adding that phone networks briefly went down.

Myanmar, already grappling with the effects of a prolonged civil war following a 2021 military coup, is ill-equipped to handle a major natural disaster.

The conflict has left much of the country in ruins, with rebel groups battling military forces across different regions.

Travel by road or river in the affected areas is difficult due to multiple checkpoints set up by warring factions.

One of the most striking images from the disaster was a bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay collapsing into the water, sending a massive cloud of dust into the air.

As Myanmar reels from the destruction, emergency response efforts are expected to be challenging due to the ongoing conflict and limited resources.

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