A recent series of powerful earthquakes near Myanmar has raised alert levels in the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the initial quake as a magnitude 7.7, followed by a subsequent 6.4 aftershock. These tremors were significant enough to be felt strongly in Thailand and other neighboring areas.

The primary earthquake occurred approximately 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing city, with a depth of 10 kilometers, at around 12:50 PM (06:20 GMT) on Friday. Following this, the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) reported a slightly higher magnitude of 7.9 and noted that tremors were felt in Yunnan. The impact in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, was severe, with reports of buckled roads and falling debris from ceilings.

In Bangkok, Thailand, residents were violently awakened by the shaking, with accounts of water being thrown out of swimming pools due to the intensity. A significant incident in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district involved the collapse of a high-rise building under construction, trapping people under the rubble. The Thai government responded by halting some metro and light rail services in Bangkok and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra interrupted her visit to Phuket to address the emergency.

Earthquakes are no stranger to Myanmar, having experienced several strong quakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher between 1930 and 1956 near the Sagaing Fault, a major fault line running through the country. In 2016, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near the ancient city of Bagan caused significant damage and loss of life, highlighting the vulnerability of Myanmar’s infrastructure to seismic activity. With a heavily strained medical system, especially in rural areas, concerns about the response to these recent earthquakes are heightened.

Further updates on this developing story are forthcoming.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/28/powerful-earthquake-strikes-myanmar?traffic_source=rss