A catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. The tremors were powerful enough to be felt in neighboring Thailand and China, sending shockwaves through urban centers and prompting immediate evacuation efforts.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicenter was located approximately 17.2 km from Myanmar’s Mandalay region at a shallow depth of 10 km. The earthquake hit at around 12:50 PM local time, causing severe structural damage, widespread panic, and the collapse of buildings and infrastructure.
Shortly after the main tremor, a powerful 6.4-magnitude aftershock struck the region, followed by several moderate aftershocks. Residents reported feeling intense shaking, leading to mass evacuations from residential and commercial buildings across major cities, including Mandalay and Naypyidaw.
The human toll continues to rise, with at least 144 confirmed dead, according to Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. Authorities fear the number of casualties will increase as rescue teams sift through the rubble. Among the hardest-hit locations was a mosque in Taungoo, where at least three people lost their lives when part of the structure collapsed. Another two people died and 20 were injured when a hotel in Aung Ban crumbled.
Hospitals across the region, particularly in Naypyidaw, were overwhelmed with casualties. One hospital, declaring itself a “mass casualty area,” saw its emergency department entrance collapse onto a car, forcing medics to treat the wounded outdoors. Makeshift medical centers have been set up to handle the influx of patients.
Structural damage is extensive. Roads have cracked, and bridges have collapsed, including a major bridge on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway. The Ava Bridge over the Irrawaddy River was destroyed, severely disrupting transportation and emergency response efforts. Reports from Myanmar’s state media indicate that buildings have collapsed in at least five cities and towns.
The earthquake’s tremors were powerful enough to be felt beyond Myanmar’s borders. In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, residents fled buildings in panic as high-rises swayed violently. The disaster turned deadly in Bangkok when a 30-story skyscraper under construction collapsed, killing at least three people and leaving 81 others missing and feared trapped under the debris. Authorities have declared the area an emergency zone, and rescue teams are working tirelessly to locate survivors.
In the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, power outages were reported, though no fatalities have been confirmed. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the collapse site in Bangkok, vowing that “every building” would undergo a safety inspection to prevent future tragedies.
Across the border in China, the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan reported structural damage to houses, and the city of Ruili saw several injuries as buildings shook violently. Chinese authorities have begun assessing the damage and dispatching relief efforts to affected areas.
In a rare move, Myanmar’s military junta has called for international humanitarian aid, declaring a state of emergency in six regions, including Naypyidaw and Mandalay. Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun issued a plea for immediate assistance, urging the global community to send aid and expertise to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.
Min Aung Hlaing appeared on state television, announcing that Myanmar has accepted offers of assistance from India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The opening of international aid routes marks a significant departure from the junta’s usual stance, which has largely isolated the country from foreign intervention since the 2021 military coup.
World leaders and international organizations have responded swiftly. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong extended his condolences, reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment to supporting affected communities. He urged Singaporeans in Myanmar and Thailand to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan echoed this sentiment, stating that Singapore’s emergency response teams were ready to deploy.
Singapore’s Civil Defence Force has put its Operation Lionheart contingent on standby, prepared to assist in urban search-and-rescue operations in coordination with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
The European Union has also pledged support. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed heartbreak over the devastation and confirmed that Europe’s Copernicus satellites were already providing crucial imagery to assist first responders. “We are ready to provide more support as needed,” she stated on social media platform X.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot affirmed the country’s readiness to assist, stating that emergency teams had been evacuated from their premises in Bangkok as a precaution. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended prayers for those affected and ordered authorities to remain on standby for relief operations in Myanmar and Thailand.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has activated its emergency management system, mobilizing medical supplies from its logistics hub in Dubai. WHO officials confirmed that trauma injury kits, sanitation supplies, and emergency medical teams were being prepared for deployment to affected regions.
Myanmar sits on the active Sagaing Fault, a major seismic fault line running north to south through the country. According to USGS, six major earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher have hit Myanmar between 1930 and 1956, with sporadic seismic activity continuing over the decades. However, Friday’s earthquake is among the most powerful recorded in recent history.
The vulnerability of Myanmar’s infrastructure—particularly older buildings that do not adhere to modern earthquake-resistant standards—has exacerbated the destruction. The junta’s ongoing conflict with resistance forces has also left the country’s disaster response capabilities strained, making relief efforts even more challenging.
As night fell, search-and-rescue operations continued under difficult conditions. Power outages and damaged infrastructure have complicated efforts, but emergency responders, including volunteers, are combing through rubble in a desperate attempt to find survivors.
With Myanmar’s request for aid now open, international search-and-rescue teams are expected to arrive in the coming days. The focus will be on clearing debris, restoring power and communication lines, and providing medical care to the injured. Temporary shelters are being set up for those displaced by the disaster.
Meanwhile, officials are warning residents to brace for more aftershocks in the coming days. Scientists have emphasized that aftershocks following an earthquake of this magnitude can persist for weeks, posing additional risks to already weakened structures.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake has left Myanmar and its neighboring countries in a state of shock and mourning. With a rising death toll, widespread destruction, and communities struggling to recover, international support and swift relief efforts are now critical.
