IN BRIEF: Myanmar-Thailand Struck by Powerful 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake

Bottom line up front

• A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar's conflict-affected Sagaing region, causing destruction across Myanmar and Thailand with a significant 6.4 aftershock following minutes later.
• At least one death confirmed in Bangkok where a 30-storey building under construction collapsed, trapping 43 workers.
• Myanmar's junta has declared emergency measures and requested international aid in a rare admission of vulnerability
• Bangkok has been designated a disaster area.
• Myanmar's ongoing civil war complicates rescue and recovery efforts, especially in conflict-affected regions.

Overview

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, March 28, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock just 12 minutes later. The shallow tremor (10km depth) was centered near Sagaing, a region where documented clashes between Myanmar's military government and resistance forces have occurred since the 2021 coup. The shallow 10km depth resulted in stronger ground motion as confirmed by USGS data, damaging infrastructure throughout central Myanmar and affecting Thailand's capital over 1,000km away. Myanmar's military government has declared a state of emergency across six regions and requested international humanitarian assistance—an atypical move for the junta given its historical resistance to external intervention. In Thailand, Bangkok's administration has officially designated the capital a disaster area, transferring response coordination authority to the city governor.

The crisis

In Myanmar, multiple buildings have collapsed in Mandalay, the country's cultural heartland and second most populous city. Photos and videos show a bridge connecting Ava and Sagaing regions has collapsed into the Irrawaddy River. Reports indicate Naypyidaw's hospital has been affected, with patients being treated outside emergency departments.

The earthquake's shallow hypocentre has intensified surface impacts, creating heightened vulnerability to continuing aftershocks. Seismologists warn these secondary tremors will likely persist throughout the region, each potentially triggering additional failures in already weakened structures, particularly concerning in areas where building codes may have been inadequately enforced.

In Thailand, a 30-story high-rise under construction collapsed in Bangkok's Chatuchak district, trapping 43 workers and killing at least one person. The collapse occurred near the popular Chatuchak Market, a major tourist attraction. Multiple buildings across Bangkok experienced violent swaying, with water from rooftop swimming pools cascading onto streets below. The Thai Stock Exchange suspended trading, and all mass transit systems in Bangkok temporarily ceased operations.

Current situation

Myanmar's ruling military council has implemented emergency measures with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing personally visiting earthquake survivors at a Naypyidaw hospital. Communications remain severely compromised throughout affected areas, hampering comprehensive assessment efforts. The earthquake has impacted territories already contested between military forces and opposition groups since the 2021 coup.

In Thailand, search and recovery operations continue at the Chatuchak building collapse, where specialised teams work to reach trapped survivors. Throughout Bangkok, authorities maintain evacuation orders for numerous structures pending thorough engineering assessments, with particular concern for high-rise buildings constructed before more stringent seismic regulations were implemented.

The earthquake had a shallow hypocentre (10km) according to USGS data. Seismologists have recorded aftershocks in the region, with a 6.4 magnitude aftershock occurring approximately 12 minutes after the initial quake. Risk level has been assessed to be HIGH.

Why it matters

The earthquake has struck a region already experiencing complex political and security dynamics since the 2021 military coup. The junta's request for international aid, which is unusual for the typically isolated regime, indicates the severity of the situation and potential strain on government resources.

The affected Sagaing region has been a focal point of resistance to military rule since 2021, with reports of ongoing tensions between military and opposition groups. Damage to transportation networks, particularly the bridge connecting Ava and Sagaing regions, affects mobility for both military operations and civilian movement.

For Thailand, the impact on Bangkok introduces regional economic considerations, as evidenced by the suspension of trading on the Stock Exchange. India's formal offer of assistance, as announced by Prime Minister Modi, demonstrates regional interest in providing support to the affected areas.

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