On Friday, March 28th, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) experienced a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake followed by a 6.4 aftershock. The trembling was felt in cities, villages and towns across hundreds of miles of Southeast Asia.
The epicenter is 10 miles northwest of a city called Sagan, and is the second largest city, one hour’s drive from Mandalay. Mandalay is a historic cultural hub with hundreds of temples and renowned landscapes, and is home to 1.6 million people. The damage is serious and is spreading nationwide. The buildings have collapsed, the roads are unable to pass, the bridges are inoperable, and the hospitals are filled. At the time of publication, the death toll was over 3,100, and more than 4,000 have been reported to have been injured. According to UN agencies, more than 3 million people have been kicked out in trembling.
The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring parts of Bangladesh, India, Laos, China and Thailand. With the exception of Myanmar, Thailand was hit hardest by earthquakes among countries. Bangkok suffered from the collapse of a complete construction site of skyscrapers in the Chatuchak area. Tiktok and other social media posts showed cracks in the building and rapids of water flowing from the city’s rooftop swimming pool.
Myanmar sits in a very active convergence of four tectonic plates: Eurasian plates, Indian plates, Sunda plates and Burma microplates. “In many ways, it is similar to the San Andreas fault, which separates the Pacific Ocean and North American plates in California,” explains Susan Huff, a seismologist at the US Geological Survey.
Bangkok is more than 600 miles from the epicenter. However, strong shaking was felt throughout the metropolitan city thanks to the unique soft soil of the capital.
Bangkok is a city “under the soft deposits,” says Huff. “In addition, this earthquake was in a “frontward directional” direction. The fault rest began near Mandalay, followed south, and concentrated energy to the south. In other words, we were heading towards Bangkok. ”
On the building’s collapsed grounds, rescuers are tirelessly trying to clear up the debris and save trapped workers. Support from the nonprofit came to the scene. Friso Poldervaart, expatriate and co-founder of the Bangkok Community Help Foundation, was also a nonprofit focused on the under-complete communities of Bangkok.
“The amount of tiled rubs is very large, with the remains of the building being 25 meters (75 feet) high,” he says. “More than 70 people are still missing under the tile rub. Due to an emergency, we quickly set up immediate assistance for the site.”
His team provided food and water to workers, and comforted the panicked spectators.
“The trembling is felt on the last day, with multiple evacuations of Bangkok’s buildings,” he continues. “Our immediate thinking and supportive tactics have something to do with the people of Myanmar.”
Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in the world and politics is complicated. It opened up slightly to democracy around 2011, but the 2021 military coup d’etat brought it back to oppression and civil war. Nevertheless, there was still a tourist trickle. In 2024 there was an estimated 700,000 visitors to Myanmar. In particular, Mandalay has long been a hot spot for tourists, attracting visitors on golden pagodas and temple tours of ancient spiritual shrines.
Lauren Ellarie, Myanmar’s Deputy Director of Programs for the International Rescue Committee, Associated Press“We are not clear about the scale of the destruction at this stage. They were talking about a town near Mandalay, where 80% of the buildings reportedly collapsed, but due to slow communications, that was not in the news.”
When it comes to Bangkok, public transport, railways and skytrains are fully functional. All airports have been tested and reopened. Government-run tourist attractions and shopping malls are open, and most hotels are operational, but are closed or closed in sections for safety inspections and minor cosmetic repairs. If you have upcoming hotel reservations, please contact the property to make sure it is still an open and welcome guest.
To stay up to date with the latest conditions in Bangkok, Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) is a great resource for visitors.
How can travelers be useful?
Several organizations are working to support communities affected by earthquakes and aftershocks.
International Rescue Committee
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The International Rescue Committee is a New York-based nonprofit organization that supports people around the world affected by the humanitarian crisis. Now, they help Myanmar’s earthly people get emergency medical care, clean drinking water, tents, food and other basic supplies.
UNICEF USA
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UNICEF USA is a top-rated global charity focused on supporting children in need around the world. The organization currently provides emergency assistance to young people and families, including health kits, medical supplies, tents, soaps, sanitary pads and disinfectants.
United Nations Refugee Agency
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The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is an international aid group aimed at protecting refugees who are forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. In Myanmar, UNHCR is currently working to help those who have lost their homes, loved ones and communities by providing emergency shelters, essential items and protections.
