March 2025 — A catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, unleashing widespread destruction across the country and neighboring Thailand, killing at least 154 people and crippling critical infrastructure. The quake, the strongest to hit Myanmar in over a century, reduced buildings and bridges to rubble and sent tremors hundreds of miles away, including in Bangkok, where a high-rise collapse trapped dozens.
Myanmar Bears the Brunt
Myanmar reported at least 144 fatalities, with images from hard-hit cities like Mandalay revealing collapsed homes, bridges, and monasteries. The nation’s already fragile infrastructure, weakened by years of civil conflict and poverty, has severely hampered rescue operations. A 2021 military coup plunged Myanmar into economic and political chaos, with swathes of the country now controlled by militias. Communication blackouts and damaged roads, including a key highway to Mandalay near the epicenter, have left humanitarian teams struggling to reach survivors.
“The situation is very complicated. Communication blackouts and road damage are making travel nearly impossible,” said Federica Franco, head of mission for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Myanmar, in an audio statement. She confirmed that MSF teams attempting to deploy emergency care were forced to turn back due to impassable routes and closed airports.
Thailand’s Capital Rocked
In Bangkok, the quake triggered panic as high-rises swayed and the partial collapse of an under-construction building killed at least nine people. Authorities are racing to rescue 110 individuals believed trapped beneath the rubble. The city’s transport networks ground to a halt, with the BTS Skytrain suspending service for safety checks, leaving thousands stranded during evening rush hour.
“I was on the 33rd floor when everything started shaking violently. It felt endless,” said a Bangkok resident, recounting the terror as tremors rattled the city.
Historic Disaster Amid Ongoing Crisis
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake as Myanmar’s most powerful since 1912, compounding a humanitarian crisis in a nation already ravaged by four years of civil war. Aid groups warn that unreliable information from conflict zones and the junta’s tight control over communications could obscure the true death toll and scale of devastation.
As night fell Friday, rescue teams in both countries worked under floodlights to locate survivors, while international organizations called for urgent access to affected regions. With monsoons looming, fears of secondary disasters, including landslides, have added urgency to relief efforts.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.
AP contributed to this report.
