A 7.7 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Myanmar on Friday 28 March 2025. Reports from the United States Geological Survey state that the epicentre was 16km outside of Sagaing, near the city of Mandalay, with a depth of 10km. There was a second aftershock about 12 minutes after the first, at a magnitude of 6.4.The earthquake happened at 1.20pm local time – around 6.20am in the UK.
Tremors were felt hundreds of miles away in Thailand and south-west China. In Bangkok, more than 1,000km away from the epicentre, videos of buildings collapsing, tower blocks swaying and water pouring out from rooftop pools are appearing. Some pictures from Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, show roads buckled and monasteries crumbled.
Damage is seen to part of the emergency department of a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central MyanmarSEBASTIEN BERGER/Getty Images
Cordelia Lynch, an Asia correspondent for Sky News, is currently in Bangkok: “I’ve seen videos and pictures of bridges collapsing, pagodas and temples destroyed. And this, in a country ravaged by civil war. Getting information from there is very challenging. Getting aid in will be a huge challenge, too.”
In 2021, a military coup overthrew the National League for Democracy government, replacing it with a military junta who remain in power today. This means that getting information from inside Myanmar is tricky, as the “state controls almost all of local radio, television, print and online media”, “internet use is also restricted”, according to the BBC. The news outlet has since revealed that “at least 144 people have died and 732 are injured after the earthquake hit”, and that “the ruling military junta has made a rare call for international aid”. Sky News have revealed that “a state of emergency has been declared in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region and northeastern Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, and Bago Region.” In Bangkok, there have been seven reported deaths as a result of a collapsing high-rise building, and rescue efforts are still underway for missing people. We’ll update this report with the latest news as we learn more about the situation.
