A strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Myanmar: at least 1,700 fatalities and ,3400 injuries

On Friday, March 28, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at 12:50 local time, resulting in at least 1,700 fatalities, while more than 3,400 people were injured. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake's epicenter was 16 km northwest of Sagaing, a city near Mandalay, at a depth of approximately 10 km. Just 12 minutes later, a second earthquake with a 6.4 magnitude struck 18 km south of Sagaing.

Aftershocks have continued since Sunday, causing widespread destruction, including buckled roads, collapsed bridges, and toppled buildings. Myanmar's authorities reported that more than 1,591 houses were damaged, trapping many people under the rubble. In Mandalay, rescue teams are digging through the debris with their hands in a desperate effort to save those trapped. Due to the scale of the disaster, the government issued a rare request for international aid. So far, China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia have sent assistance and joined the search-and-rescue efforts. Additionally, the Red Cross has launched an urgent campaign to raise $100 million in aid.

The tremors were so strong that they were felt across the region, reaching as far as Thailand and southern China. In Bangkok, nearly 1,000 km away from the epicenter, an unfinished high-rise building collapsed due to the quake.

Myanmar lies in one of the most geologically active regions on Earth. Because the latest earthquake was relatively shallow—occurring at a depth of only 10 km—the surface shaking was significantly stronger, leading to severe damage and widespread building collapses.