International

7.7 magnitude earthquake shakes Myanmar, Bangkok panics

Hoang Bach • March 28, 2025 15:12

A powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28. Witnesses said the quake sent panicked people running out of buildings in Yangon and Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand.

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People take to the streets after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28. The quake also affected Bangkok, sending hundreds of panicked people running out of buildings in the Thai capital after the tremors. Photo: REUTERS

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 and struck at a depth of 10 km. A strong aftershock followed shortly after.

The epicenter was about 17.2 kilometers (10.7 miles) from the city of Mandalay, which has a population of about 1.2 million, according to the USGS.

There was no immediate information from Myanmar about the extent of the damage.

"We have started search operations and are going around Yangon to check for casualties and damage. We have no information at the moment," a Myanmar Fire Service officer told Reuters.

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People stand outside a building after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar. The quake also affected Bangkok, sending hundreds of panicked people running out of buildings in the Thai capital. Photo: REUTERS

Social media posts from Mandalay showed several collapsed buildings and debris strewn on the streets. Major media outlets could not immediately verify the posts.

Witnesses in Yangon said many people fled buildings in Myanmar's largest city.

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People stand outside an office building in Bangkok on March 28, after an earthquake struck central Myanmar, with tremors felt in southern Thailand. Photo: AFP

Meanwhile, in Bangkok, witnesses said many people panicked and rushed into the streets, including many hotel guests who fled while wearing bathrobes and swimsuits.

Hoang Bach