A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked central Myanmar and Thailand on Friday afternoon, sending panicked residents fleeing into streets as buildings swayed and a high-rise under construction in Bangkok collapsed in a cloud of dust. The tremor struck just after 1:30 p.m. local time near the Myanmar city of Monywa, about 30 miles from the Thai border, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Minor Quakes Reported in Chiang Mai and Off Sumatra

Dramatic footage circulating online showed the moment the multi-story Bangkok building, its crane still attached, crumbled near the bustling Chatuchak Market area. Police rushed to the scene but could not immediately confirm casualties among construction workers. The quake’s force sent water sloshing from rooftop pools and showered streets with debris across the Thai capital.

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 occurred in Myanmar – the epicenter was located 6 km from the city of Mandalay, where there is destruction, including multi-story buildings

The tremors were felt in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, India pic.twitter.com/pDlJHhUaHa

— Sprinter Observer (@SprinterObserve) March 28, 2025

“I was sleeping when I heard this terrible noise,” said Duangjai, a Chiang Mai resident who ran outside in her pajamas. “The whole building was shaking like a boat.” The initial quake was followed by a powerful 6.4-magnitude aftershock, prompting authorities to warn people against re-entering unstable structures.

In Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw, the temblor cracked roads and sent chunks of ceilings crashing down in government buildings and temples. The effects rippled as far as China’s Yunnan province, where Beijing reported even stronger 7.9-magnitude shaking – a discrepancy experts are investigating.

Minor Tremors Felt After Earthquake Reports in Koh Samui

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency cabinet meeting as officials assessed damage in Bangkok, home to 17 million vulnerable residents in its forest of high-rises. With communications spotty near the epicenter, the full scale of destruction in rural Myanmar remains unclear hours after the disaster struck. Rescue teams are now racing against time as night falls across the affected region.

-Thailand News (TN)