A devastating earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck central Myanmar (formerly Burma) on March 28, 2025, sending shockwaves across Southeast Asia and triggering widespread panic, destruction, and uncertainty. The quake — one of the strongest in the region in more than a century — was felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, causing significant damage, mass evacuations, and prompting fears of aftershocks.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter was located near the city of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, at a relatively shallow depth of around 10 kilometers below the Earth’s surface. This shallow depth contributed to the extreme shaking felt across large distances.
Widespread Panic and Immediate Response
The ground began to shake without warning at around midday, prompting thousands of residents in cities such as Mandalay, Sagaing, and neighboring capitals to flee their homes and offices in fear. In Bangkok, where the tremors were strong enough to rattle skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, people poured into the streets, descending emergency stairwells and seeking safety in open areas.
