Myanmar and Thailand Earthquake Causes Significant Casualties
- Dogeon Lim
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 9
April 1, 2025
By Dogeon Lim
A powerful earthquake (7.7-magnitude) struck Sagaing, central Myanmar, and neighboring Thailand, on March 28 at 12. 50 P.M. local time, resulting in a rapidly rising death toll and expensive damage to infrastructure.
This earthquake’s impact was felt hundreds of kilometers away, including in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Reports from Myanmar indicate a dire situation, with recent figures showing more than 1,600 people dead and thousands injured. Reports from Myanmar indicate a catastrophic situation, with the latest statistics confirming over 1,600 fatalities and thousands injured. Rescue efforts are underway, but challenges persist due to damaged roads and communications disruptions, particularly in remote areas.
In Bangkok, the earthquake provoked the collapse of a 33-story building under construction into a cloud of dust near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak market. The uncompleted building collapsed in a few seconds and dozens of people were trapped under the rubble. According to news agency AEP, as of Sunday, 17 people had been confirmed dead, with 32 injured and 83 still missing - most of them construction workers from the site of the building. “It’s a great tragedy”, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said after viewing the site and added that there was still hope that there might be survivors. Thai authorities have launched an investigation into the collapse.
Also, the earthquake was felt in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces and in Ruili on the border with Myanmar, which got damaged and people injured according to Chinese media reports.
According to CNN and AEP on the 28th (local time), Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Anung Hlaing declared a state of emergency and requested “Any organization or country that wants to help people in our country, please come.” President Donald Trump also promised support this time. That day asked in the Oval Office whether he would respond to Myanmar’s military government’s request for help and he said the earthquake was “a terrible thing” and “we will help and we have already spoken with Myanmar.”
