In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

By AP, AFP, Reuters   March 28, 2025 | 04:07 am PT
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, destroying monasteries and homes, collapsing a 30-story building under construction in Thailand, and leaving dozens feared dead or injured.

The shallow 7.7-magnitude tremor hit northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar at around 12:50 p.m. (1:20 p.m. Hanoi time) and shook vehicles on the road in Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, around 20 km away.

Video from X

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

The earthquake damaged part of a former royal palace in Mandalay.

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

Masoyein Monastary damaged in the quake.

Photo courtesy of Facebook/Westernnews

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

In Sagaing, southwest of Mandalay, the 90-year-old Ava Bridge is damaged. Several parts of the expressway between Mandalay and Yangon were also ruined.

Photo courtesy of X/ensonbaskicom

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

Vehicles are stalled as the earthquake broke down roads in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw.

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

Debris after a pagoda in Naypyitaw was hit in the quake.

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

Injured people were taken to a hospital in Naypyidaw.

Officials said the main 1,000-bed hospital in the capital city has been overloaded.

They have not released estimated casualties.

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

Thailand, which shares a border with Myanmar, recorded significant impacts from the quake.

The quake violently shook buildings across Bangkok -- where strong tremors are almost unheard of -- leaving workers and shoppers rushing into the street in shock.

"At first, I thought I was sick -- like I was getting dizzy or about to faint. Then I noticed the lanterns were moving," said Hongsinunt, who like many other office workers fled her Bangkok building.

Dramatic video footage showed the tremor rocking a high-rise hotel, with water from its rooftop pool whipping over the building's edge.

"I was shopping inside a mall when I noticed some signs moving, so I quickly ran outside," said Attapong Sukyimnoi, a broker.

"I knew I had to get to an open space -- it was instinct."

Terrifying tremors also rocked the northern city of Chiang Mai, popular with tourists.

Receptionist Baitoey Pradit Sa On said when the quake hit all the guests rushed from her hotel.

"It was chaotic... even the water splashed out of the pool," she said, pointing at the soaked area around it.

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

A mushroom cloud of dust and debris swept through the streets of northern Bangkok as panicked residents ran for their lives after an under-construction skyscraper came crashing down following a powerful earthquake.

The construction site of a new 30-storey government building for Thailand’s Office of the Auditor General quickly turned into a disaster scene, with people jumping into cars to escape or shrieking as they fled on foot.


The moment the building for Thailand’s Office of the Auditor General collapsed under construction.

Video courtesy of X/Viral News

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

A woman working at the building bursts into tears after it collapsed.

In the rubble: Earthquake leaves trail of devastation in Myanmar and Thailand

An injured person for the construction site is rushed to hospital.

Thailand's capital has been declared a disaster area following the earthquake, Bangkok city hall said on Friday.

The Bangkok governor has been placed in charge of coordinating the disaster response, it said

 
 
go to top