A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, killing at least 153 people—144 in Myanmar and 9 in Thailand—and injuring 732, according to Myanmar’s military junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and Thai officials. Described as a 'mass casualty' event by Dawn, the disaster has left communities in Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Bangkok reeling, with hospitals overwhelmed and rescue efforts ongoing. The quake, centered 10 miles northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, was followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock, exacerbating the destruction. With breakout search queries like 'myanmar earthquake today' and 'thailand earthquake 2025' trending, the global community is focused on the human toll. The USGS estimates the death toll could surpass 10,000, though this remains speculative.

In Myanmar, the majority of the casualties—144 deaths and 732 injuries—occurred in Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and the Sagaing region. Naypyidaw’s hospitals were overwhelmed, with patients treated outside in 100-degree heat after the emergency department was damaged (The New York Times). In Mandalay, a hospital was inundated with injured people on stretchers or cardboard, while volunteers reported digging with bare hands due to limited resources (The Independent). The collapse of the Ava Bridge in Sagaing has isolated communities, complicating rescue efforts. In Thailand, Bangkok saw 9 deaths (range 3–10) when a 33-story skyscraper collapsed, leaving 117 missing and 16 injured (Yahoo News, The Independent). The quake’s effects were felt as far as China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, with damage reported in Ruili (Le Monde)

Rescue efforts are underway, but significant challenges remain. In Myanmar, the military junta has declared a state of emergency across six regions and requested international aid, a rare move (Reuters). However, internet shutdowns and the ongoing civil war since 2021 have hampered coordination, with communication lines down and roads damaged (The New York Times). In Bangkok, rescue teams are searching for survivors in the rubble of the collapsed skyscraper, with Thai officials issuing a nationwide alert for aftershocks (The Independent). A 4.2 magnitude aftershock was reported later on March 28, adding to the tension (Hindustan Times). Myanmar’s poverty—ranking among the poorest in Asia with a GDP of £50 billion—and political instability exacerbate the crisis, making recovery a daunting task.