A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar on Friday (March 28, 2025), causing extensive damage across a wide swath of one of the world’s poorest countries and killing several hundreds. In neighboring Thailand, at least six died in Bangkok, where a high-rise under construction collapsed.
The 7.7 magnitude quake struck at midday, with an epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar ’s second-largest city. Aftershocks followed, one of them measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude. In Mandalay, the earthquake reportedly brought down multiple buildings, including one of the city’s largest monasteries.
In Thailand, a 33-story building under construction crumpled into a cloud of dust near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak market, and onlookers could be seen screaming and running in a video posted on social media. Vehicles on a nearby freeway came to a stop.
(With inputs from AP)
Photo:
Getty Images
Thai rescue teams provide aid at a construction building collapse in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area on March 28, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo:
AP
Vehicles make their way near a road damaged by an earthquake on March 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar
Photo:
AP
Damaged pagodas are seen after an earthquake, Friday, March 28, 2025 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
Photo:
The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP
In this image provided by The Myanmar Military True News Information Team, victims caused by an earthquake is seen compound of government hospital on March 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
Photo:
The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP
In this image provided by The Myanmar Military True News Information Team, Myanmar’s military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, center, inspects damaged road caused by an earthquake Friday, March 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
Photo:
Getty Images
Soldiers from the Royal Thai Army with the K-9 Unit for search and recovery at the site of collapsed construction building on March 28, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo:
Getty Images
Rescue workers take watch outside of the site of collapsed construction building in Chatuchak area on March 28, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo:
AP
Volunteers look for survivors near a damaged building on March 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
Photo:
Getty Images
Rescue workers conduct a search and rescue operation for the people who are trapped within the rubbles of a collapsed under-construction skyscraper in the Chatuchak area during the night on March 29, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo:
Getty Images
Rescuers resume operations at the Chatuchak site of a skyscraper collapse on March 29, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. In the aftermath of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar, Bangkok finds itself in an unprecedented state of paralysis in Friday evening.
Published – March 29, 2025 08:56 am IST