The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, around 1:20 PM near Mandalay, has triggered continual seismic activity, including 44 aftershocks as of 9:58 PM local time (Myanmar time) on that day. These aftershocks, including a notable 6.4-magnitude event shortly after the initial quake, have compounded the chaos in an already devastated region.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) notes that aftershocks can persist for days or even weeks, and given the shallow depth of the quake (approximately 10 km), the potential for further damage remains high.
The Myanmar military junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing,, has reported 144 fatalities and 732 injuries as of their latest statement on Friday evening. These numbers reflect casualties across three cities—Sagaing, Kyaukse, and Naypyidaw—but notably exclude Mandalay, the second-largest city and near the epicenter, suggesting the toll could rise as more data emerges.
The junta has warned that both deaths and injuries are expected to increase, a grim forecast echoed by the USGS, which estimates the death toll could surpass 1,000. The junta also does not control the entire country, with various areas in control of ethnic militias, as Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war for years. As a result, accurate country wide reporting could be difficult. It is also compounded by limited internet and media reporting due to strict firewalls and laws in place by the junta, with most citizens blocked from social media and most VPNs. Therefore, information on damage has been more limited than Thailand.
As for what is known, the situation on the ground is dire. In Mandalay, buildings have collapsed, including monasteries and apartment blocks, with rescue efforts hampered by a lack of manpower and equipment. Naypyidaw’s 1,000-bed hospital has been damaged, forcing treatment of the injured outdoors, while infrastructure like roads and bridges like the Ava Bridge near the epicenter, has buckled or collapsed entirely. The military has declared a state of emergency across six regions and made a rare plea for international aid, a sign of the disaster’s scale given Myanmar’s isolation under junta rule and its ongoing civil war.
Beyond Myanmar, the quake’s effects have rippled across Southeast Asia. In Bangkok, Thailand, over 600 miles away, a high-rise under construction collapsed, killing at least ten people so far and leaving dozens trapped, with rescue operations ongoing as we report here. Tremors were also felt in China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, though Myanmar bears the brunt of the destruction.
