Last Updated on 2025 年 3 月 28 日 by 総合編集組
Myanmar’s 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake: Tremors Rock Bangkok and Beyond
The Earthquake’s Origin and Scale
On March 28, 2025, at around 2:20 PM, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, as reported by the China Earthquake Network Center, with final details pending official confirmation. The epicenter, located near Sagaing Province, approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Mandalay and 50 kilometers east of Monywa, lies in Myanmar’s arid central plains—a region known for cotton and peanut farming.
With a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers, as confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Germany’s GFZ, the quake’s energy radiated widely, impacting areas far beyond its origin. Myanmar’s position along the Sagaing Fault, a seismically active zone, explains its history of strong quakes, including six above 7.0 between 1930 and 1956.
Widespread Impact: Bangkok Shaken
The effects were starkly felt over 1,000 kilometers away in Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, home to over 17 million people. High-rise buildings swayed, prompting panicked evacuations as residents spilled onto the streets.
Social media platform X buzzed with videos of hotel picture frames swinging wildly and water sloshing out of rooftop pools, some cascading from great heights. Most alarmingly, a high-rise under construction collapsed, with workers fleeing in terror—an incident raising questions about building safety in the region. In Chiang Mai, a resident named Duangjai recounted to AFP how she bolted from her home in pajamas, initially mistaking the tremor for something else. Reports from Reuters and AP underscored the intensity felt across Bangkok’s central business district.
Ripples Across Borders
The quake’s reach extended further, rattling Hanoi in Vietnam and multiple cities in China’s Yunnan Province, including Kunming and Dali, where residents reported strong shaking. A Yunnan netizen, “Minoz李三歲,” humorously noted online that it took 30 seconds to realize the dizziness was an earthquake.
Tremors were also felt in Guangxi and Guizhou, while Hong Kong’s Observatory recorded a slightly lower 7.3 magnitude. In Myanmar itself, details remain scarce due to ongoing civil unrest since the 2021 coup, complicating damage assessments. The shallow depth amplified the quake’s destructive potential, though no official casualty reports have emerged yet.
Historical Context and Ongoing Concerns
Myanmar’s seismic past adds weight to this event. A 6.8 magnitude quake in Bagan in 2016 killed three and damaged historic temples, hinting at the vulnerability of the region’s infrastructure. With its strained medical system and rural poverty, Myanmar could face significant challenges if the toll proves severe.
Meanwhile, Bangkok’s rare but forceful shaking—evidenced by evacuated buildings and disrupted metro services—highlights how unprepared urban centers can be for such distant quakes. Experts note that shallow quakes like this one transmit energy efficiently, explaining the far-reaching tremors.
A Call for Awareness
This 7.7 magnitude event serves as a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability. For those in affected areas, staying updated via local authorities and avoiding potentially damaged structures is crucial. This blog will track developments, offering a detailed resource on the “Myanmar earthquake” and its fallout. From the arid plains of Sagaing to Bangkok’s skyscrapers, the quake’s story is still unfolding—stay tuned for more.
