What we know so far: Powerful Earthquake Triggers Evacuations in Bangkok

Bangkok/Hua Hin, March 28 - 15.36, 2025 – A powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar early Friday afternoon, sending strong tremors across the region.

Buildings swayed in Thailand’s capital Bangkok – nearly 1,000 km away – prompting panicked evacuations from high-rises. Initial reports indicate significant damage near the epicenter in Myanmar and at least one building collapse in Bangkok. Authorities in both countries have launched emergency responses as aftershocks continue, and the public is being urged to remain cautious.

Seismic Event Overview

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured magnitude 7.7 and struck at a shallow depth of about 10 km (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). It hit central Myanmar, with the epicenter roughly 17 km from the city of Mandalay (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). The tremor occurred around 1:20 PM local time and was powerful enough that tremors were felt in many parts of Thailand, including Bangkok ( Bangkok Post - Powerful quake in Myanmar felt in Bangkok). Minutes after the main quake, a strong aftershock of approximately magnitude 6.4 rattled the same area ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). Seismic agencies in the region reported varying estimates (China’s monitors measured up to 7.9 magnitude), but all concur it was a major quake. Because the epicenter was located inland, no tsunami warning was issued (Earthquake videos: Building collapses in Bangkok, Ava Bridge falls in Myanmar as quake causes widespread damage | World News - Hindustan Times).

Impact and Damage in Myanmar

In Myanmar, the quake caused severe shaking in multiple cities. In the capital Nay Pyi Taw, roads buckled and buildings were damaged ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). Witnesses in Mandalay – Myanmar’s second-largest city – reported that several buildings collapsed from the force of the tremor (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). Social media images from Mandalay showed streets filled with debris and at least one five-story building reduced to rubble, though these reports are still being verified (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). One witness described seeing a neighborhood tea shop collapse with people trapped inside, calling the situation “very bad” (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). Another reported a mosque had been badly damaged.

Critical infrastructure in Myanmar also suffered: local media footage captured the collapse of the historic Ava Bridge, which connects the Sagaing and Ava regions across the Irrawaddy River (Earthquake videos: Building collapses in Bangkok, Ava Bridge falls in Myanmar as quake causes widespread damage | World News - Hindustan Times). The jolt toppled sections of the 85-year-old bridge into the river, severing a key transportation link. Chunks of ceilings fell from public buildings in Nay Pyi Taw – including at the National Museum – and cracks ripped through walls ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). Cities as far as Yangon (over 500 km from the epicenter) experienced strong tremors; residents there ran outdoors in alarm (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). As of the latest updates, there were no official casualty figures from Myanmar. “We have started the search… So far, we have no information yet,” a Myanmar Fire Services Department officer in Yangon told Reuters regarding injuries or deaths (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). Emergency teams in Myanmar are now combing affected areas for survivors, amid fears that people could be trapped under collapsed structures.

Impact and Damage in Thailand

( Bangkok Post - Powerful quake in Myanmar felt in Bangkok) People evacuate onto the street in Bangkok’s downtown Ploenchit district after tremors from the Myanmar earthquake were felt on Friday ( Bangkok Post - Powerful quake in Myanmar felt in Bangkok).

In Bangkok, hundreds of thousands felt the tremors as office towers and condos swayed for up to two minutes during the quake (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters) (Strong earthquake strikes central Myanmar, panic in Bangkok). Office workers and residents poured into the streets downtown in panic – some evacuating in nothing but bathrobes or gym clothes, having fled mid-activity ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand) (Strong earthquake strikes central Myanmar, panic in Bangkok). One eyewitness in a high-rise said “doors and windows were creaking” as her office tower rocked side-to-side, accompanied by “loud shrieks” from frightened occupants (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters) (Strong earthquake strikes central Myanmar, panic in Bangkok). Outside, crowds of evacuees gathered in open areas; building staff provided first aid and chairs for the elderly or those in shock (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters) (Strong earthquake strikes central Myanmar, panic in Bangkok).

Serious structural damage in Thailand has been limited but not absent. Notably, a **high-rise building under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district collapsed amid the shaking ( Bangkok Post - Powerful quake in Myanmar felt in Bangkok). The unfinished 20-story structure came crashing down, sending up plumes of dust. Thai PBS reported that at least 43 construction workers were unaccounted for and one person was confirmed dead at that site (泰國地震　曼谷興建中摩天大樓倒塌　泰媒：1死43失蹤). Bangkok authorities have deployed dozens of rescue units, including city firefighters and volunteers, to the scene. As of press time they were working to locate and free the trapped workers beneath the rubble (泰國地震　曼谷興建中摩天大樓倒塌　泰媒：1死43失蹤). Elsewhere in Bangkok, there were reports of minor cracks in older buildings and fallen objects inside homes, but no other major collapses. Transit infrastructure saw precautionary shutdowns: operators halted some BTS Skytrain and MRT metro services to inspect tracks and stations for damage ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). Parts of two elevated train lines were temporarily closed, stranding commuters until safety checks were completed an hour later.

The quake’s effects were felt beyond the capital. In northern Thailand’s cities, which are closer to Myanmar, the shaking was even more pronounced. Residents in Chiang Mai – about 700 km from the epicenter – described it as the strongest tremor in memory, with some building ceilings rattling loose ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). “I ran out in my pyjamas… This is the strongest tremor I’ve experienced,” one Chiang Mai local told AFP ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand) ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). Tremors were also felt in Hua Hin and Pattaya, and as far south as Bangkok’s suburbs, illustrating the quake’s broad reach. The USGS ShakeMap estimate indicates roughly up to 13 million people in Thailand and Myanmar experienced “strong” to “very strong” shaking from this earthquake (泰國地震　曼谷興建中摩天大樓倒塌　泰媒：1死43失蹤).

Casualties and Injuries

Myanmar: As a fast-developing situation, Myanmar had not released official casualty numbers by late afternoon. Given the multiple building collapses in Mandalay, casualties are unfortunately expected. However, no deaths had been confirmed yet by Myanmar’s authorities as of this report (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). Hospitals in Mandalay and Sagaing were bracing for an influx of injured. Unconfirmed local media reports mentioned some people might be trapped in collapsed buildings (like the tea shop and a collapsed residence), but search efforts were still underway.

Thailand: Thailand’s Deputy Interior Minister reported that dozens of injuries occurred in Bangkok, mostly minor cases of cuts, bruises or stress-related episodes during evacuations. One construction worker at the Chatuchak collapse site has been confirmed killed, and 43 others are missing and feared trapped in the debris of that building (泰國地震　曼谷興建中摩天大樓倒塌　泰媒：1死43失蹤). Medics on-scene have treated at least 10 injured workers pulled from the wreckage, some in serious condition. Elsewhere in the capital, at least 15 people were treated for panic attacks or fainting during the evacuation of high-rises, according to Bangkok’s Erawan Medical Center. There were no other reports of life-threatening injuries in the city. Authorities have warned, however, that the toll could rise if aftershocks cause additional incidents.

Emergency Response and Rescue Operations

Thailand: The Thai government and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration swiftly activated emergency plans. Search-and-rescue teams with sniffer dogs and heavy equipment have converged on the Chatuchak collapse site to locate the missing construction workers. Television footage showed rescuers in orange coveralls climbing through mangled scaffolding and concrete, calling out to survivors. Cranes are being brought in to lift heavy slabs. The area has been cordoned off and relatives of workers have gathered anxiously behind police lines. Medical tents were set up nearby to triage the injured. “We are doing everything to get to those people quickly,” a Bangkok rescue official told local media.

City engineers have fanned out to inspect building safety across Bangkok. Within hours, teams were checking the structural integrity of skyscrapers, bridges, and skytrain tracks. Firefighters and disaster response units were put on high alert nationwide. The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended trading temporarily when the quake hit, and trading halted for about 30 minutes as the building was evacuated (Strong earthquake strikes Myanmar, buildings collapse in Mandalay, witnesses say | Reuters). (Operations resumed after inspections confirmed no damage.) As night falls, additional lighting and generators are being sent to key sites in case of power outages or further tremors.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has opened an emergency coordination center. They are working with the military and civil defense volunteers to assess needs. So far, Thailand has not requested international assistance, but officials indicated they are ready to help neighboring Myanmar if asked.

Myanmar: In Myanmar, rescue efforts are concentrated in Mandalay and surrounding regions. The Myanmar Fire Services Department and local emergency teams have deployed to affected areas. In Mandalay, soldiers and firefighters have been clearing debris from collapsed buildings by hand and with backhoes. Neighbors joined in, forming bucket brigades to remove rubble. However, Myanmar’s rescue operations are hampered by limited resources and the breadth of the damage. Phone and power outages in some parts of the Sagaing region have made communication difficult. Authorities in Nay Pyi Taw have dispatched teams north to assist. So far, Myanmar’s junta government has not made a formal appeal for international aid, but humanitarian organizations and the Red Cross are monitoring the situation. Given the scope of building collapses, search-and-rescue efforts will likely continue through the night.

Official Statements and Reactions

Thai Government: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra cut short an official trip to Phuket upon learning of the disaster. She announced via a post on X (Twitter) that she was holding an “urgent meeting” with ministers and disaster officials Friday afternoon to coordinate the response ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). In a brief press address, the Prime Minister expressed relief that Thailand avoided major devastation, and offered condolences to those affected in Myanmar. “High-rise buildings in Bangkok shook, but our systems worked – people evacuated safely. We stand ready to assist Myanmar in any way we can,” Paetongtarn said. She urged the public to remain calm and follow official safety instructions during aftershocks.

Bangkok’s Governor Chadchart Sittipunt also spoke to media amid inspections downtown. He confirmed the collapse in Chatuchak and noted that engineers would review why that under-construction structure failed. “We have asked all construction sites in the city to pause work until safety can be assured,” the governor said. Chadchart also said schools would be inspected before reopening after the weekend. The Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division released a statement confirming the quake’s magnitude and origin in Myanmar ( Bangkok Post - Powerful quake in Myanmar felt in Bangkok). They noted that tremors were felt in at least 18 provinces in Thailand, but emphasized that Thailand was not the epicenter. The agency’s chief seismologist explained that Bangkok’s high-rise swaying was due to the city’s soft soil amplifying the distant quake waves – a known phenomenon – and not an indication of any impending local quake.

Myanmar Authorities: Myanmar’s state media initially broke the news with brief reports of a quake “felt in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw.” Several hours after the event, a spokesperson for the ruling State Administration Council appeared on MRTV (state television) acknowledging damage in Mandalay Region. He urged people to stay vigilant but also to “rely on official information” amid swirling rumors on social media. The junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has not yet spoken publicly, but is believed to be overseeing the response from Nay Pyi Taw. Lower-level officials in Mandalay have been giving updates by radio; they confirmed multiple building collapses and called for any trapped residents to hang on as rescue is on the way.

International organizations have also responded. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said it is in contact with Myanmar authorities to assess needs. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General issued a statement of support, and ASEAN’s disaster response center is standing by. Seismologists around the world noted the quake struck near the well-known Sagaing Fault in Myanmar. Dr. Thanawat Jarupongsakul, a Thai earthquake expert, told Thai PBS that this fault has historically produced major quakes, and Friday’s event is one of the largest in recent decades ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). He explained that aftershocks could continue for days or weeks.

Aftershocks and Ongoing Risks

Geologists are cautioning that significant aftershocks could follow in the wake of the initial 7.7-magnitude quake. Indeed, within about 12 minutes of the main shock, a 6.4-magnitude aftershock struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand) (Earthquake videos: Building collapses in Bangkok, Ava Bridge falls in Myanmar as quake causes widespread damage | World News - Hindustan Times), and multiple smaller tremors have been recorded throughout the afternoon. The Thai Meteorological Department reported at least five aftershocks (ranging magnitude 4–5) that were not strongly felt in Thailand but could be in Myanmar. Experts warn that any aftershock above magnitude 5 could potentially cause further damage, especially to already weakened structures near the epicenter.

In Bangkok, while aftershocks from such a distant quake are unlikely to cause new damage, even mild shaking can panic residents who endured the earlier tremor. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely ( Bangkok Post - Powerful quake in Myanmar felt in Bangkok). Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division will relay information on any significant aftershocks to the public. Bangkok’s governor advised building managers to re-check elevators and emergency equipment later in the day, as a precaution in case aftershocks are felt.

Structural engineers have pointed out a secondary risk: Bangkok’s high-rises, once evacuated, need to be re-entered cautiously. Building management teams are conducting rapid visual assessments for cracks or other issues. Construction sites pose an ongoing hazard if strong aftershocks hit – cranes or scaffolding could become unstable. Thus, construction in Bangkok and other affected Thai provinces remains on hold pending safety reviews.

In Myanmar, the threat of aftershocks is more acute. Many people in Mandalay and Sagaing are afraid to go back inside their homes, opting to spend the night in open areas. This raises concerns for health and security, but is understandable given the circumstances. Rescue teams in Myanmar must also contend with the possibility of aftershocks as they work, which could jeopardize already delicate piles of rubble. The Myanmar Earthquake Committee has urged residents in the affected regions to stay away from damaged buildings and be ready to move to safe areas if tremors resume.

Seismologists note that Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault is highly active. Historically, it has produced multiple large quakes – six events of magnitude 7.0 or greater between 1930 and 1956 ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). In 2016, a 6.8 quake in central Myanmar (near Bagan) killed 3 people and damaged dozens of ancient temples ( Bangkok Post - Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand). The fault’s past activity suggests a likelihood of further aftershocks now. However, it’s impossible to predict if any will approach the main shock in size. For now, experts recommend vigilance. “The ground is still unsettled,” one Thai seismologist said, “so we advise everyone in impacted areas to remain on alert over the next 48 hours.”

Public Advisories and Safety Instructions

Both Thai and Myanmar authorities have issued safety advisories to help residents and travelers stay safe in the aftermath of the quake. In Bangkok, public announcements on loudspeakers and social media are reminding people what to do and not do as aftershocks remain possible. Key safety instructions include:

• Stay out of damaged buildings: Do not re-enter buildings that show structural damage (cracks, leaning, etc.) until they are inspected and declared safe by engineers (Safety Guidelines: After an Earthquake | Earthquakes | CDC). If you hear creaking or see cracks widening, move away from that structure. Authorities in Bangkok have specifically urged people to keep clear of the collapsed building site and any visibly weakened structures. The Canadian Red Cross likewise advises staying out of any building that might be unsafe, and only returning when officials give the all-clear (Earthquakes - Canadian Red Cross Home).

• Be cautious of falling debris and hazards: If you are in a high-rise and an aftershock hits, drop and cover to protect your head from anything that could fall. Stay alert for falling glass, plaster, or signage on the street near tall buildings. Bangkok municipal officials have been checking overhead power lines and billboards; they warn pedestrians to watch for any debris that could be dislodged by aftershocks. Also, stay away from downed power lines or damaged utility poles for fear of electrocution (Safety Guidelines: After an Earthquake | Earthquakes | CDC). Report any gas leaks, fires, or hazardous materials spills immediately to authorities.

• Follow official information: Rely on updates from government agencies, such as the Thai Meteorological Department and DDPM, or Myanmar’s state broadcasters, for credible information. Rumors of another “big quake coming” have been spreading on chat groups – officials urge the public not to panic or circulate unverified claims. Both governments have established 24-hour hotlines for earthquake information (in Thailand, the hotline is 192 for civil defense). Travelers should check notices from their embassies or the Tourism Authority of Thailand for any travel advisories. So far, no airports in Thailand have been closed; flights continue normally, but travelers should arrive early in case of extra security or delays.

• General earthquake safety: If another strong tremor is felt, “Drop, Cover, Hold On” – drop to the ground, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on until shaking stops. If outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, walls, or trees that could fall. If you are on the road, pull over safely and avoid overpasses. The Thai Red Cross has reminded families to keep emergency go-bags ready and to have a plan for where to reunite if separated.

  
  

As aftershocks fade and damage assessments continue, both countries are on alert but determined. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available from the ongoing investigations and relief efforts.