A strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, and was felt in at least five other Southeast Asian countries, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake occurred around 12:50 local time, 16 kilometers north-northwest of Sagaing city and only 17.2 km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city with a population of about 1.2 million.
The earthquake caused panic among the locals and people rushed to evacuate the buildings. In the Thai capital of Bangkok, hundreds of people rushed out of buildings as witnesses reported that water was thrown from swimming pools and buildings were violently shaken.
The earthquake was followed by a significant aftershock of magnitude 6.4 just 12 minutes after the initial quake.
In addition to Thailand and Myanmar, seismic waves were also felt in India, China, Laos and Bangladesh. In several large cities in the region, people were evacuated and authorities immediately began checking for possible damage or casualties.
No deaths have been reported so far, but rescue teams and Myanmar authorities continue to assess the situation. In areas near the epicenter, residents were advised to stay safe and expect aftershocks.
The region is known for intense seismic activity, being located near the intersection of several tectonic plates.
