A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia on Friday, killing several people, collapsing a Bangkok skyscraper under construction and toppling multiple buildings in Myanmar, where the military government declared a state of emergency.
At least three people died when a mosque partially collapsed in Myanmar’s Taungoo town, according to witnesses, while local media reported at least two deaths and 20 injuries following a hotel collapse in Aung Ban in Shan state.
In Thailand, at least one person was killed when a skyscraper under construction collapsed in Bangkok, the National Institute of Emergency Medicine confirmed. Dozens of workers were rescued from beneath the rubble as Bangkok authorities declared the capital a disaster-stricken area.
NEWS
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) March 28, 2025
Skyscraper under construction collapses in Bangkok, Thailand, following magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar.pic.twitter.com/BvQSZIHeNn
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake struck at lunchtime at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), with its epicentre approximately 17.2 km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s ancient royal capital with approximately 1.5 million residents.
Myanmar’s ruling military announced on Telegram that “the state will make inquiries on the situation quickly and conduct rescue operations along with providing humanitarian aid.”
In Bangkok, panic spread as office workers, hotel guests and residents fled buildings. Witnesses described people running into streets in bathing suits and bathrobes as water cascaded from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel.
อีนี่อยู่ชั้นดาดฟ้าคอนโด พร้อมลูกค้า ครอบครัวเกาหลีกับลูกน้อยอะ ตอนแรกก็นึกว่าตัวเองเวียนหัว🥲🥲🥲🥲
— oyasumi (@msuhcoff) March 28, 2025
#แผ่นดินไหว pic.twitter.com/tIwvmz2X0D
One Bangkok office tower swayed for at least two minutes, with doors and windows creaking loudly as hundreds of employees evacuated via emergency stairs, some shocked workers freezing in panic.
Social media posts showed collapsed buildings and debris scattered across streets in Mandalay.
Another aftermath video from Mandalay after it was hit by powerful 7.7 earthquake#earthquake #Myanmar pic.twitter.com/MUgIwctxm6
— Masood (@Masood9876) March 28, 2025
Video and images posted by Myanmar media outlet Democratic Voice of Burma showed a hotel in Aung Ban reduced to rubble. Myanmar Now published images of a collapsed clock tower in Mandalay and damage to the wall of Mandalay Palace.
China’s Xinhua news agency reported strong tremors in southwestern Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, though no casualties were initially reported there.
The powerful quake was followed by a significant aftershock, according to the USGS.
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