A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, with its epicenter located around 10 km below the surface near the Sagaing Region. The event was one of the most severe in the region in over a century, unleashing intense shaking that reverberated beyond Myanmar—into southern China, northern Thailand, and beyond.

As dawn broke, chaos spread across affected areas. Buildings in cities like Mandalay and regions near the border collapsed or cracked. Roads were torn apart, bridges severed, and power and communications were disrupted. In neighbouring Thailand, high‑rise buildings felt strong tremors, with at least one skyscraper collapse reported. Emergency rescue efforts immediately began, but were hampered by damaged infrastructure and widespread aftershocks.

The humanitarian toll is staggering. Several thousand people are confirmed dead—with estimates varying, but figures such as 3,600+ fatalities in Myanmar have been reported. Injuries number in the thousands, and many remain missing. The quake added a new layer of crisis in a country already facing conflict and instability. International agencies and neighbouring countries have mobilised aid and rescue teams, but relief efforts are being severely challenged by blocked roads, damaged hospitals, and the scale of destruction.

Seismologists warn that the region remains highly volatile. The earthquake struck along the Sagaing fault—an active tectonic boundary—raising concerns about significant aftershocks and the potential for further seismic events. As rescue operations continue, the disaster stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of life in the face of nature’s force—and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure and rapid humanitarian response.