Over 150 Dead After Twin Quakes Rock Myanmar, Thailand

MAR 28 2025·Updated MAR 30 2025

Story

Above: Rescue workers search for survivors of a building collapse after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 28, 2025. Image credit: Anusak Laowilas/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Facts

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay at 12:50 p.m. local time on Friday, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, causing widespread destruction across multiple cities.
Reuters
Al Jazeera
New York Post
Myanmar's military junta said at least 144 people were killed and 732 were injured and declared a state of emergency in six regions, including Mandalay. According to the US Geological Survey, deaths could range between 1,000 and 10,000.
Myanmar NOW
Al Jazeera
Earthquake
The earthquake sent tremors across Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Bangladesh, India, and parts of China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
CNN
ap
New York Post
In Bangkok, an under-construction 33-story building near Chatuchak market collapsed, killing at least eight people and leaving 90 missing. In Myanmar, Mandalay's historic palace, monasteries, and civil infrastructure suffered severe damage.
Bangkok Post
Reuters
New York Post
The authorities in Bangkok declared the capital a Level 2 disaster zone, temporarily suspended the stock exchange, closed urban rail systems, and evacuated numerous high-rise buildings.
Foxnews
Nationthailand
Reuters
The earthquake comes as country grapples with a civil war that has displaced over three million people and left more than 20 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
Reuters
ap

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

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CRIT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The earthquake has devastated Myanmar's already fragile infrastructure and healthcare system, which was severely weakened by the ongoing civil war. Yet, with Myanmar declaring a state of emergency, the military government's swift response shows a strong commitment to minimizing casualties and protecting affected communities.

Nationthailand

Myanmar NOW

Narrative B

The disaster presents an opportunity for Myanmar's junta to demonstrate leadership and rebuild trust. One of the world's poorest countries should get international assistance to facilitate rescue operations, but the government must also work to reveal the full scale of the damage and casualties.

Mizzima

Narrative C

While much of Myanmar is susceptible to earthquakes, Mandalay sits right on top of the eastern end of one of the world's most active zones of seismic activity: the Alpide Belt. Friday's unprecedented quake occurred due to strike-slip faulting, which highlights the vulnerability of seismically active regions.