Massive Quake Rocks Myanmar, Sends Shockwaves Across Asia

 

Yesterday, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar at 1:20 PM, with its epicentre just 12 km from Sagaing. The tremors affected key regions in Myanmar and spread panic across neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, India, Laos, Thailand, and China.

 

Rescue teams are in full force, working tirelessly to find survivors and evaluate the widespread damage. The earthquake has left a trail of destruction in its wake, impacting many of Myanmar's most iconic areas. As the magnitude of the disaster unfolds, regional emergency services are on high alert.

 

Much of the news seems to have focussed on Thailand and Bangkok in particular, lets take a moment to recognise the devastation that occurred in Myanmar.

 

 

Myanmar Declares State of Emergency

The earthquake's epicentre was near Sagaing, close to Mandalay, at a shallow depth of 10km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). A powerful aftershock of 6.4 magnitude followed just 12 minutes later, worsening the devastation. Myanmar’s military-led government declared a state of emergency across six regions, with authorities warning that the death toll is expected to rise.

 

Major General Zaw Min Tun, a military government spokesperson, urged blood donors to assist hospitals in hard-hit areas, including Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw. The Red Cross reported that damaged power lines were hampering relief efforts, leaving some areas inaccessible.

 

The earthquake caused a 90-year-old bridge in the Sagaing region to collapse and damaged key highways linking Mandalay to Yangon. In Naypyitaw, several religious shrines were destroyed.

 

 

 

More on this in our Myanmar News Forum

 

29.06.2025

My heart really goes out to the Burmese people who are already suffering so much under that horrific regime, and now this? What did those poor souls do to deserve all this suffering?

 

I just hope miraculously that the death toll is not well into the thousands. 

This could be the aftermath in Thailand, but will the government take note and force construction standards...

 

Our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and speedy recovery to those who were injured.

As if the Burmese people had not enough pain with the Junta ruining the country over the last 3 years & now this.

Having worked in Mandalay with the wonderful local folks & experienced the grandeur of the country's

natural beauty I just hate to see the country being torn apart from within.

The only good thing that hopefully comes out of this is that the Junta's brains have been jolted into some form of realism

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

My heart really goes out to the Burmese people who are already suffering so much under that horrific regime, and now this? What did those poor souls do to deserve all this suffering?

 

I just hope miraculously that the death toll is not well into the thousands. 

 

Upside is that Min Aung Hlaing (the leader of Myanmar’s military government)  declared a state of emergency and issued an “open invitation to any organizations and nations willing to come and help

 

RIP to those that have passed.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

This could be the aftermath in Thailand, but will the government take note and force construction standards...

No it could not. To suffer devastation on this scale, the country or region needs to be close to the epicentre of the quake. There are no tectonic fault lines running through Thailand that could cause such a quake.

 

 'Thailand sits on the Eurasian tectonic plate, which is flanked by the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates. While the country is located in a region that is relatively safe from earthquakes'.

 

http://www.cicc.chula.ac.th/eng/2012-04-26-04-23-32/111-likelihood-of-earthquakes-in-thailand.html

29 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

No it could not. To suffer devastation on this scale, the country or region needs to be close to the epicentre of the quake. There are no tectonic fault lines running through Thailand that could cause such a quake.

 

 'Thailand sits on the Eurasian tectonic plate, which is flanked by the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates. While the country is located in a region that is relatively safe from earthquakes'.

 

http://www.cicc.chula.ac.th/eng/2012-04-26-04-23-32/111-likelihood-of-earthquakes-in-thailand.html

The earthquake magnitude in Bangkok was in the range of 4.5 to 5.5.
So, what do you think would happen if a stronger earthquake occurred in this region?
For example, a magnitude 9.0+? It would be felt as a 6.0–7.0 magnitude earthquake in BKK. It would be a major disaster—and it's quite possible.

2 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

The earthquake magnitude in Bangkok was in the range of 4.5 to 5.5.
 

 

Which earthquake in Bangkok was in the range of 4.5 to 5.5 ?

 

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Which earthquake in Bangkok was in the range of 4.5 to 5.5 ?

 

yesterday

1 minute ago, Dmitry2222 said:

The earthquake magnitude in Bangkok was in the range of 4.5 to 5.5.
So, what do you think would happen if a stronger earthquake occurred in this region?
For example, a magnitude 9.0+? It would be felt as a 6.0–7.0 magnitude earthquake in BKK. It would be a major disaster—and it's quite possible.

 

If a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Mandalay resulted in a 4.5 ML local magnitude in Bangkok, then a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Mandalay would approximately result in a 5.8 ML local magnitude in Bangkok.

 

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake would release about 90.5 times more energy than the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, significantly increasing the shaking felt even at the same distance.

 

A 7.0 ML magnitude in Bangkok is ultimately, geological improbable, arguably impossible. 

 

9 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

In Myanmar, it felt like a 7.7, while in Bangkok, it was around 4.5–5.5. What is confused you here?

Yeah the quake in Mynmar 1400km away from bangkok

was felt in bangkok.

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

5.8 ML local magnitude in Bangkok

These figures are not very encouraging; it is possible that we may obtain a magnitude increase of +1.

6 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

5.8 ML local magnitude in Bangkok

These figures are not very encouraging; it is possible that we may obtain a magnitude increase of +1.

 

Very slim...   for that to occur the earthquake in Mandalay would have to reach a 9.0 (Richter) which his exponentially more powerful than the last quake.

 

Recently history shows the largest quakes along the Sagaing Fault.

- March 28, 2025: magnitude of 7.7 Mw 

- January 1990: magnitude of 7.0 Mw 

- February 1912: magnitude of 7.9 Mw

 

Thus a 9.0 Mw quake and resulting ~1.0 ML increase in intensity in Bangkok is extremely unlikely / Geologically improbable.

 

 

This is now being reported in the Thai media as 8.2

Very sad and tragic for Myanmar ,   they have to bear the brunt of the Junta military shooting the young in the streets daily and now this. 

 

What devastation they have suffered for the past 5 years since the murderous military took over. 

Very heartbreaking to see these images of destruction.

 

God help Myanmar .....     

49 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

If a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Mandalay resulted in a 4.5 ML local magnitude in Bangkok, then a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Mandalay would approximately result in a 5.8 ML local magnitude in Bangkok.

 

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake would release about 90.5 times more energy than the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, significantly increasing the shaking felt even at the same distance.

 

A 7.0 ML magnitude in Bangkok is ultimately, geological improbable, arguably impossible. 

 

I question your logic. The magnitude of an earth quake is a single value measured at the epicenter. This describes the size of the EQ at it's source. Shocks or tremours at various further distances are not measured in magnitude.

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

No it could not. To suffer devastation on this scale, the country or region needs to be close to the epicentre of the quake. There are no tectonic fault lines running through Thailand that could cause such a quake.

 

 'Thailand sits on the Eurasian tectonic plate, which is flanked by the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates. While the country is located in a region that is relatively safe from earthquakes'.

 

1 hour ago, Dmitry2222 said:

The earthquake magnitude in Bangkok was in the range of 4.5 to 5.5.
So, what do you think would happen if a stronger earthquake occurred in this region?
For example, a magnitude 9.0+? It would be felt as a 6.0–7.0 magnitude earthquake in BKK. It would be a major disaster—and it's quite possible.

 

I do not believe that indulging in pure uninformed speculation has any merit whatsoever. 

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

This could be the aftermath in Thailand, but will the government take note and force construction standards...

 

Why 'could' this be the aftermath in Thailand ???   

 

Thailand does not sit near an Major plate Boundary - a quake of this magnitude in Thailand has never happened. 

 

The largest quake to epicentre in Thailand was the 6.1 Mw Chiang Rai quake in 2014 (Mae Lao District).

19 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Very sad and tragic for Myanmar ,   they have to bear the brunt of the Junta military shooting the young in the streets daily and now this. 

 

What devastation they have suffered for the past 5 years since the murderous military took over. 

Very heartbreaking to see these images of destruction.

 

God help Myanmar .....     

Agreed, absolutely! 

We don't hear of anyone helping Myanmar ....  certainly not the USA,  not Thailand,  and not even China.

 

Despicable thieving governments, the whole damn lot of them.   

2 minutes ago, Sierra Tango said:

I question your logic. The magnitude of an earth quake is a single value measured at the epicenter. This describes the size of the EQ at it's source. Shocks or tremours at various further diferences are not measured in magnitude.

 

Kind of correct... away from the epicentre 'impact' is not 'measured' specifically... 

But, it is reported as an equivalent magnitude based on events, eye witness reports etc....   and reported as ML (local Magnitude), hence my figures quote Bangkok reported an energy of between 4 and 5 ML (i.e. 4-5 equivalent magnitude) many other reports are suggesting 4.5ML and others 5.0ML.

 

 

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

We don't hear of anyone helping Myanmar ....  certainly not the USA,  not Thailand,  and not even China.

 

Despicable thieving governments, the whole damn lot of them.   

It looks like this thread is not about politics.

39 minutes ago, steven100 said:

We don't hear of anyone helping Myanmar ....  certainly not the USA,  not Thailand,  and not even China.

 

Despicable thieving governments, the whole damn lot of them.   

YOU don't hear.

Trump promised help.

EU, WHO, Germany incl Christian charity organizations, Switzerland. And that's only the range that I have on my news.

 

1 minute ago, KhunBENQ said:

YOU don't hear.

Trump promised help.

EU, WHO, Germany incl Christian charity organizations, Switzerland. And that's only the range that I have on my news.

 

People are deaf and have blinkers on

No need to look far.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1356151-trump-offers-aid-as-myanmar-junta-appeals-for-earthquake-relief/

8 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

YOU don't hear.

Trump promised help.

EU, WHO, Germany incl Christian charity organizations, Switzerland. And that's only the range that I have on my news.

 

 

yes,  I have read that Trump offered help,   and the spokewoman for USAID has confirmed that it's funding has been completely cut as well as staff so  ....

as the USAID spokewoman said,  staff drastically cut,  how can you send aid if you have no one to organise it and make it happen.  ?

 

Trump  =   egg on his face  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

it now appears China and Russia have stepped up to the plate,  Russia sending a 120 man rescue specialist group,  China is sending humanitarian aid as we speak   and Trump is still telling the USAID boss to work it all out even though they have little left to offer.   

11 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

People are deaf and have blinkers on

you should get that hearing checked and take your blinkers off. 

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

We don't hear of anyone helping Myanmar ....  certainly not the USA,  not Thailand,  and not even China.

 

Despicable thieving governments, the whole damn lot of them.   

Try Reuters:

 

'BANGKOK, March 29 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military rulers let in hundreds of foreign rescue personnel on Saturday after an earthquake killed over 1,000 people, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the impoverished, war-torn country in years'.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-quake-death-toll-nears-700-international-aid-starts-arrive-2025-03-29/