7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Southeast Asia, affecting Myanmar and Thailand
117 comments
·March 28, 2025v3ss0n
baq
shakemap: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000pn9s...
Mandalay looks to be almost exactly in the center of the worst of it...
dendrite9
That straight line in the map doesn't look like the maps for any earthquakes I've felt. It looks like it was on the Sagaing Fault which is a different type of fault from the ones I've experienced.
dnawy
2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake has a ShakeMap similar to this event [1]; We often think of the epicenter as a single point in earth where the energy then radiates outward. In reality, a fault is more similar to line [2]. The energy radiates outward around the entire fault line.
(Note: since earthquake magnitude is correlated with the amount of area moved, it is safe to assume that larger earthquake will have larger fault rupture)
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Turkey%E2%80%93Syria_eart... [2] https://earth-planets-space.springeropen.com/articles/10.118...
baq
quoting from the 'Hazard' section:
> The length of fault running 260 km (160 mi) from 19.2°N to 21.5°N, on the Meiktila segment, is designated a seismic gap due to the absence of major earthquake ruptures since at least 1897. At least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) of slip has accumulated along the fault corresponding to a magnitude 7.9 earthquake.
Science did pretty well here with the magnitude. Wonder how much more research is needed to be able to predict an event let's say a full minute before it happens...
JumpCrisscross
It also appears to have gone through the heart of Tatmadaw territory [1].
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar_civil_war_(2021%E2%8...
v3ss0n
Yeah several Junta building destroyed including notorious tataroo military Air field which is responsible for bombing several hundred of innocent civilian's.
araes
That shakemap looks really suspicious, relative to the damage being reported in Thailand, especially Bangkok. 600 miles away (~1000 km) and the shakemap's reporting numbers like 3 to 4 on the intensity scale. When they reported the skyscraper collapsing in Thailand, at first I thought it was Chiang Mai near the border of Myanmar, not Bangkok 600 miles away. For Americans, that's like the big one hits the Cali fault, and skyscrapers are falling down in Salt Lake City or Phoenix.
Wonder whether that's just automated simulation output, rather than actual measurements from stations? Numbers 3 and 4:
3 - Felt noticeably indoors, especially in tops of buildings, yet many do not even notice there's an earthquake.
4 - Felt indoors by many, felt outside by few. Sensation like heavy truck striking a building.
Bangkok's reporting sensations, crowd behavior, and events more like a 6 to 7. Everybody runs, furniture moves, plaster falls, considerable damage to poorly built (partially finished) structures. A 3-4 is like, you barely notice, or think a really heavy vehicle just crashed or something. Not, everybody in town runs in panic, describes all the ceilings collapsing, cracks in walls afterward. [1][2][3][4]
Expect there's probably going to be some re-evaluation of the magnitude and scale of the earthquake based on what was actually reported by observers, cameras, and damage afterward. They're reporting slight damage and cracks even in relatively well constructed buildings.
Edit: This story from ChannelNewsAsia in Singapore has camera footage from somebody on the ground near the skyscraper collapse. Visibly shaking the camera holder. [5]
[1] Intensity, Text Descriptions: https://sciencefest.indiana.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/m...
[2] Semi-common Cone Chart with Energy Comparison: https://basecampconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/eartq...
[3] Japanese Chart with Pictures: https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*Ca_yV0l_zkWiFtg...
[4] Another Picture Chart: https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/...
[5] ChannelNewsAsia, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/massive-quake-kills-nea...
mikhailfranco
Bangkok is built on a muddy floodplain. The soft ground accentuates the ground motion by the jello-wobble resonance effect. High-rise buildings that do not have seismic isolation or counter-weight damping (like Taipei 101) will suffer dramatic whiplash shaking at the top.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tuned-mass-damper-of-tai...
Some cities closer to the epicenter, such as Chiang Mai, are also on floodplains, but have many fewer high-rise buildings. Some smaller condo blocks there have been deemed unsafe after the earthquake.
https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citynews/general/following...
dnawy
USGS Shakemap intensity is based on the peak ground acceleration (PGA). It has been known that, in some cases, PGA does not correlates well with structural damages. The peak ground velocity (PGV) has better correlation with structural damages [1].
Even so, they are only describing the peak values, it does not describe the ground motion frequency or other ground motion characteristic [4]. It is hard to compress a complex phenomenon into single value.
My colleagues suspect that the soil condition in Bangkok (soft soil and basin) and the distance from the epicenter amplifies long period/low frequency content of earthquake waves, making skycraper to be more vulnerable to damages. Example of basin effect is 1985 Mexico City Earthquake [2] and example of long period effect is the 2011 Tohoku EQ [3]
(Note: Magnitude value would probably be stable, they are based on the energy released by the earth (Moment Magnitude), Intensity is just the on-the-ground observation of the earthquake and it can be subjective.) [1] https://www.cwa.gov.tw/Data/service/hottopic/20191213_SC_New... ; https://www.ncdr.nat.gov.tw/CEOCworkshop/cwb_2.pdf [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Mexico_City_earthquake [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_period_ground_motion [4] https://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/WCEE2012_5499.pdf
baq
The geometry of the fault may have something to do with it, maybe some constructive interference at play...?
v3ss0n
Casualties rising so far Estimated to be thousands. People trapped inside collapsed building and calling for help .
spartanatreyu
> A construction in Pathunam collapsed.
Damn, I was staying in a hotel right next to there only 6 weeks ago.
I remember getting to the hotel and seeing warnings not to use the elevator in case of earthquakes.
v3ss0n
Death toll in Mandalay 14 so far. A friend from Mandalay report that aftershock are still going on ( 3 hr later) . Her house is totally collapsed and she don't know where to stay. She managed to get out just in time , only injury she had was kettle fall on her legs.
v3ss0n
More videos from Mandalay
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=96191531281452...
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v3ss0n
Compilation https://youtu.be/197HVsjdsGU?si=jhbLyvY3GTDu-tQK
dockerd
Another compilation - https://x.com/VertigoWarrior/status/1905613070636122443
ThePowerOfFuet
Tracking-free link: Compilation https://youtu.be/197HVsjdsGU
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woutr_be
I’m in Bangkok right now, didn’t even think about it being an earthquake and thought my building was coming down. Sprinted out of the building, watching our rooftop pool collapse and rain down debris and water.
I think that’s the most scared I’ve ever been, thinking that was it for me.
redwood
Mega quake centered on a major city in a developing economy state. Information is slow to come out because of the Junta no doubt but the death toll is likely to be far far larger then folks initially are reading.
So bizarre to see a lot more news coverage about places like Bangkok when the epicenter was on a large city in another country. But it's a reminder that information flows more slowly out of these closed societies
jksflkjl3jk3
Bangkok has many tall buildings, so it was probably felt a lot more strongly here than other places closer to the epicenter. I was on the 32nd floor and saw and heard large cracks forming in the walls.. definitely a scary experience. They just let us back into the building, but not sure I'll stay here for a few days.
HiroProtagonist
I’m glad you are ok. Stay safe!
decimalenough
The quake was in northern Myanmar, so the major city (Yangon) in the south was apparently not too badly affected.
Early reports indicate significant damage in Naypyidaw, the new and thus not particularly large capital, and one spectacular but isolated construction site collapse in Bangkok, Thailand, quite far from the epicenter. I presume most of the damage will be in country towns near the epicenter, but Myanmar is dysfunctional at best of times and roiled by active civil war right now, so it'll take time for information to filter out.
alephnerd
> the new and thus not particularly large capital
Naypyidaw (3rd largest city) has almost 1 million people now.
Furthermore, the epicenter was right outside Mandalay (2nd largest city), which has a population of almost 2 million.
In addition, the epicenter is also smack dab in the Central Lowlands, where much of Myanmar's population lives. Around 7-10 million people must live within 200 miles of the epicenter.
alephnerd
To add on (and not to pile on you), I know you were trying to be sympathetic, but every death is a tragedy tbh.
Not your fault of course, but some tragedies are worth giving a moment of silence for.
bayesianbot
Felt it in Northern Thailand, I've lived through many earthquakes around here but this was on completely different level - usually I notice some open doors and hanging things shaking and can slightly feel it, but today I felt worried if my house is going to crash down and all my neighbors ran to the street. (our houses are built on ~1m stilts to protect from floods)
Sadly didn't receive a notification from Android this time, last time I got it about ten seconds before the shaking began.
kayxspre
I would at least expect a Cell Broadcast to be deployed (The TelCo Authorities/Providers and Disaster Management Authority has been testing it last year and expected to be deployed in Q2 2025). According to the press conference, the system can be activated, but it wasn't until 2:30 PM that the Disaster Management Authority decided to ask the TelCo to send SMS (not via Cell Broadcast). In my case, it wasn't until 7:40 PM that I received guidance from the authority.
Some people are claiming that they received alerts from other apps that target Thai people, such as gaming app, novel reading app and call screening app. Even the SNS account of online gambling site (illegal in Thailand) managed to provide guidance faster than the government's own response. Red Tapes on triggering the warning means no one was even sure what is going on, and has to resort for self-reporting or SNS.
t_mahmood
Google turned it off after the mishap in Brazil, iirc.
Tostino
Looks like they only disabled it in Brazil [1].
1. https://www.theverge.com/news/613572/google-earthquake-detec...
cma
Did they ever follow up on the outcome of that investigation and report on what caused the false detection?
sofixa
The page is still up: https://crisisresponse.google/android-alerts/
And according to some Googling, they had only disabled it in Brazil while investigating why the false alarm happened.
InDubioProRubio
Is that even slightly proportional? One wrong warning- vs 1 right..
darkhorn
Two years ago Turks didn't receive notifications either. I wonder what is not working in Android.
anticensor
Turkey case was different and wilfully evil intentioned. They knowingly disabled base stations.
animesh
One of the craziest things - water falling out of the high rise building's roof top pool: https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1jlpma0/...
themaninthedark
Video of building under construction collapse:
Close up: https://x.com/nongmeaw33/status/1905511502435791007
Towaway69
Holy F2k. Hope nobody was seriously injured - as unlike as this hope may be.
It’s extremely surreal to be sitting in sun, half way around the world, drinking coffee and watching these images.
It’s amazing and frightening at the same time - the disconnect between the folks affected by this disaster and me scrolling around here at HN.
At the same, the immediacy of world events and the inability to actual do anything about them.
For many this was their last day and may their rest in peace, tomorrow could be ours. Once again nature shows us who is boss.
alephnerd
81 construction workers trapped and 3 passed away [0].
Sadly, hundreds of similar incidents happened across the border in Myanmar, as the epicenter is right outside of Myanmar's 2nd largest city.
s1artibartfast
>the inability to actual do anything about them
That is called trained helplessness. You could be on a flight today if you want. You could be donating to relief in minutes without leaving your computer chair.
Towaway69
I can give money to an anonymous organization that might or might not use that money to help the people on the ground.
But then I’ve scrolled on in HN (or wherever) and the next disaster has happened - the same feeling of disconnect.
The immediacy of social media makes everyone my neighbour - that’s what I was trying to say.
rimmingurmum69
[flagged]
lordnacho
I was wondering about the collapsed building in Thailand that was under construction.
Do civil engineers take precautions for under-construction buildings? Do they minimize the risk somehow? I'm guessing there's inevitably a window during which an earthquake would be catastrophic, even if the end product is earthquake resistant.
lucianbr
It's not inevitable by any means. There's definitely a way to build buildings so that at any point they are as resistant to earthquakes as they will be at the end.
Actually I think it would take special effort to make it so it's vulnerable during construction but safe at the end.
For example, do you think the foundation of the building is somehow weaker during construction but gets stronger at the end? How could that possibly work?
catherd
Concrete foundations get stronger as the concrete cures (around a month).
Framing is much more resistant to collapse once you put sheathing on it, a roof, etc. Before that it is easier to fall over.
A half built wood frame wall only supported at one end is like a wet noodle if you don't put in some temporary braces.
scarab92
The concrete is supported by formwork and props until it cures, which appear to have been removed on all floors, suggesting that the concrete structure was now complete and the building is about as strong as it ever will be.
The collapse must have been due to a design or construction mistake.
treis
There's stuff like tuned mass dampers that reduce sway. The top floors would not necessarily be completely attached either. Can see them falling and taking out the lower levels with them.
Ayesh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Sagaing_earthquake
I'm in Hanoi, also about 1,000km from the epicenter (similar to Bangkok). Some people apparently felt tremors and building fixtures shaking, but nothing as serious as the videos I saw in Bangkok.
ultimaweapon
I'm living in Thailand for almost 40 years and this is the first time I have a nausea due to earthquake even it is very far from its origin. I can't imagine how much catastrophe the Myanmar has from this earthquake.
defrost
The video of a rooftop swimming pool waterfalling from a highrise building is wild ( https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c20d0nxr2lmo ).
Nothing compared to the high rise collapse though :/
keepamovin
That is big. Praying the people are okay and safe from Tsunamis. The Netflix documentary about the Boxing Day 2004 disaster is excellent.
jksflkjl3jk3
The epicenter was in the center of Myanmar, far from the ocean, so shouldn't be any risk of tsunamis. But starting to see some pictures. The fatalities are going to be a lot higher than being reported now.
keepamovin
That is very sad, at least there's no tsunamis to be thankful for. It would be so scary to be inside a building collapsing. Not the best way to go, and the rescue and rebuild is difficult.
I am Myanmar and reporting from Bangkok.
I was upstairs, at third floor and was going down to have lunch and it shook whole house. At first I thought I am having nausea due to not having any food yet then thing starts to shake violently almost knocked me off stairs . And glasses started to rumble.
A construction in Pathunam collapsed.
Some house of friends of mine in Mandalay - Myanmar collapsed. One girl managed to get out in time.
One construction in Mandalay collapsed - 2 died.
Historic Mandalay Palace wall and entrance collapsed .
Airport in naypyitaw collapsed, there are report of many airport workers died.
Bridges collapsed, one of the longest standing historic bridges of Myanmar - Sagaing Bridge collapsed.
One other bridge in Mandalay brings down two cars with it, casualties unknown.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18bsATAEKS/
Many Junta gov buildings collapsed
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BYV644DmY/