A deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake and a 6.4-magnitude aftershock caused widespread destruction in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and nearby countries, as well as Myanmar, where the epicenter was.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand at noon, causing widespread damage, the collapse of a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, and the mass evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock was felt about 12 minutes later.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) and the German GFZ Institute determined that the epicenter of the earthquake was in Myanmar, at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers near the city of Mandalay. Tremors were also felt in southern China, in the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, where damage and injuries were reported.
In Thailand, a high-rise building at a construction site near Chatuchak Market collapsed, leaving behind a huge cloud of dust and scenes of panic. Two people were killed, seven were rescued alive, and an unknown number are still missing. Dramatic footage of the moment has been shared on social media.
Alarm systems were activated throughout Bangkok, and crowds were evacuated from high-rise buildings to the streets. The skytrain and subway systems. The stock exchange suspended trading, and vehicle traffic was brought to a standstill due to unusual traffic congestion.
Tourists and workers fled to public parks like Benghazi, where witnesses described moments of panic. "The building started to move, then there was screaming and confusion," said Fraser Morton from Scotland. "Water was pouring from rooftop pools, people were running in the opposite direction on escalators."
In Myanmar: Destruction of historic buildings and overcrowding in hospitals
Myanmar, which is suffering from an internal civil war, has been hit hard. Buildings collapsed in the city of Mandalay, including part of the historic royal palace. Temples and homes were damaged in the capital, Naypyidaw. A major hospital there was declared a "mass casualty area," and patients were treated in hallways and outdoors.
In the Sagaing region, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and roads connecting Mandalay to Yangon were damaged. Injuries and damage to buildings were also reported in the Chinese city of Ruili.
Declaration of a state of emergency in two countries
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration declared the city a disaster area to allow coordination between emergency services. Thai Prime Minister Phatthana Shinawatra convened an emergency meeting. Myanmar authorities declared a state of emergency in six states and regions, including the capital Naypyidaw.
The quake was also felt in China, where people were reported to be unable to stand in the city of Mongxi due to the force of the quake. Homes were also damaged in the city of Ruili, and local media reported the evacuation of the injured.
The science behind earthquakes: what causes them, how they are measured – and why they cannot be predicted
As you may recall, Southeast Asia experienced a major disaster in 2004.
Following the deadly earthquakes that struck Thailand and Myanmar, public interest in a scientific understanding of the phenomenon is growing. What exactly is an earthquake, why does the ground shake, and how do scientists know where and how strong the earthquake was?
An earthquake occurs when two blocks of land (tectonic plates) slide past each other along a geological fault. The point deep in the earth where the sliding begins is called the hypocenter, and the point above it on the surface is called the epicenter.
Sometimes, the mainshock is preceded by weaker tremors called foreshocks, and it will always be followed by aftershocks that can last for days, months, or even years – depending on the strength of the mainshock.
The tectonic plates that make up the Earth's crust are constantly moving, but the edges of the plates are rough and stuck together. The accumulated stress is released suddenly when they "break," and the stored energy is released in the form of seismic waves that spread in all directions. When the waves reach the surface, they cause tremors.
Most earthquakes occur at the boundaries of tectonic plates – a kind of global geological puzzle. Areas such as the “Ring of Fire” that surrounds the Pacific Ocean are among the most prone to earthquakes, including Myanmar and Thailand.
Earthquakes are measured using Seismographs, instruments that record ground vibrations. The resulting graphic record is called SeismogramA short, slightly shaking line indicates a weak earthquake, while a long, strongly vibrating line indicates a powerful earthquake.
A distinction must be made between Magnitude – the intensity of the earthquake, which is one constant measure for each earthquake – and The intensity of the feeling (Intensity), which varies according to the distance from the epicenter and the type of local soil.
Deadly reminder – 230 dead in 2004 from earthquake followed by tsunami
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which occurred on December 26, was one of the most powerful and deadly earthquakes ever recorded. It occurred off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a magnitude of 9.1–9.3 on the Richter scale. The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that quickly spread across the Indian Ocean, hitting the coasts of Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and other countries. More than 230,000 people died, millions were left homeless, and the economic damage was enormous. The earthquake illustrated the destructive power of tectonic plates and the importance of early warning systems in vulnerable areas.
The epicenter of the 2004 earthquake (the hypocenter) was At the bottom of the Indian Ocean, off the northwest coast of the island Sumatra in Indonesia. The exact location was approximately3.3° North, 95.8° East, at a depth of about 30 kilometers below sea level. The epicenter (the point above the focus, on the surface) was near the city Banda Aceh in Aceh province, and was one of the cities hardest hit by the tsunami that erupted following the earthquake.
The 2025 earthquake did not generate a tsunami because it occurred on land.
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How do you look for God in the small details and ignore many other details? First of all, there is no connection between human actions and earthquakes. Yes, there is a connection to climate problems, but it is not at the level of a single country but a punishment that the entire world receives. I am not sure that God (whom I do not believe in) punishes for eating (the Chinese also eat everything), or for certain behavior in bed. By the way, there are riots everywhere – because the haters of democracy have taken over country after country and are destroying it, so that Thailand is no exception.
Hi, about 7 years ago, 8 years ago to be exact, I predicted that Thailand was going to experience severe crises in terms of weather, wars, tsunamis, one of the reasons is the wrath of the gods over homosexuality, and also because Thailand is a country where everything is just shocking and it is an undeveloped country, a 3rd world country, I recommend not going near there at all! I warn you again not to go near there!!!