Devastating 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Myanmar; Tremors Shake Bangkok, High-Rise Collapses

Bangkok/Myanmar – March 29, 2025 – A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, sending tremors rippling across neighboring Thailand. The violent quake led to the collapse of a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok, with possible casualties feared.

Panic in the Streets, Buildings Evacuated

The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Monywa, Myanmar, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to preliminary data from the US Geological Survey and Germany’s GFZ Centre for Geosciences.

The impact was felt across Thailand, with alarms blaring in skyscrapers and thousands of residents and office workers evacuating buildings in Bangkok’s densely populated districts. In a dramatic scene, water from rooftop pools in high-rises spilled over the edges, and debris fell from buildings.

Video footage circulating on social media captured the moment a high-rise building under construction collapsed, its towering crane crashing down in a massive cloud of dust. Onlookers screamed in horror, running for safety.

Emergency Response Underway

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra immediately called an emergency meeting to assess the damage. Authorities confirmed that the earthquake’s impact was felt in almost all regions of Thailand, but the full extent of casualties and destruction remains unclear.

Police and emergency teams rushed to the collapsed building near Bangkok’s famous Chatuchak Market, a bustling area typically packed with shoppers and tourists. It remains uncertain how many workers were inside the structure at the time of the disaster.

Myanmar Hit Hard; Shrines and Homes Damaged

Back in Myanmar, the capital Naypyitaw reported significant damage, particularly to religious shrines, with structures toppling to the ground. Several homes were also affected, but further details are still emerging, particularly as Myanmar continues to grapple with its ongoing civil conflict.

Adding to the chaos, a strong 6.4-magnitude aftershock followed shortly after the main earthquake, keeping residents on edge and prompting authorities to warn against re-entering buildings too soon.

A City on Edge

In Bangkok, a sprawling metropolis home to over 17 million people, the streets were filled with confused and fearful evacuees, standing in the blistering heat, afraid to return indoors. “I have never felt anything like this,” said Somchai Rattanarak, a resident of a high-rise condominium. “The whole building was swaying—I ran down 30 floors without looking back.”

Thailand is not typically prone to large earthquakes, making the powerful tremors even more shocking for residents.

As rescue operations continue and authorities assess the full scale of the damage, concerns remain high for those trapped under the rubble in Bangkok and the affected communities in Myanmar. More updates are expected as emergency teams work to determine the human toll of this terrifying disaster.

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Stay tuned for live updates as the situation unfolds.