A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, sending shockwaves across the region, including Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, and neighboring Bangkok, Thailand.
The tremor, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), caused widespread panic as buildings swayed, prompting people to rush outdoors in fear.
The epicenter was located about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) from Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay, a bustling cultural hub with a population of around 1.5 million.
While no immediate reports of damage or casualties surfaced from Myanmar, social media from Mandalay depicted scenes of destruction, including collapsed buildings and debris littering the streets.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene, with one recalling watching a five-story building crumble as residents fled their homes in terror.
In Yangon, the country’s largest city, people poured into the streets, leaving buildings behind as they braced for aftershocks.
The tremor also reached Bangkok, where startled office workers and hotel guests flooded the streets, many in bathrobes or swimming attire, as tremors caused high-rise towers to sway for at least two minutes.
One office building in downtown Bangkok experienced significant movement, causing windows and doors to creak and alarms to blare.
Workers evacuated via emergency stairs, some in shock, while medical staff tended to the elderly and those in distress outside.
In the immediate aftermath, no casualties were reported from either Myanmar or Thailand, though the full extent of the damage in Myanmar remained unclear due to communication challenges, especially amid the ongoing civil unrest in the country.
As panic swept through major cities, the quake served as a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic events, particularly in densely populated areas like Bangkok, which is home to more than 17 million people.
Although initial reports did not indicate structural damage, the tremor was strong enough to send water splashing out of rooftop pools in the Thai capital.
The situation is still being monitored as authorities continue their search for any signs of casualties or further destruction in both countries.
Source: Daily Sabah
BDST: 1404 HRS, March 28, 2025
MSK
