March 28, 2025 Earthquake: Myanmar (Burma), Thailand

At least 3,791 people killed, 5,106 injured and 88 missing; 55,000 homes, 2,500 schools and 640 hospitals damaged or destroyed; 400 roads and 95 bridges damaged; widespread power and water outages occurred in Myanmar, including 70% of structures damaged in Sagaing. At least 63 people killed and 83 missing and 771 houses damaged mainly in northern Thailand and the Bangkok area. At least 2 people injured and 847 houses damaged in the Ruili area, China. Many high-rise buildings damaged at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Damage estimated at 1.9 billion US dollars. A 500 km surface rupture between Kyaukmyaung, Sagaing and Penwegon, Bago was confirmed through satellite observations. Maximum intensity X.

The March 28, 2025, M7.7 earthquake near Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar), occurred as the result of strike slip faulting between the India and Eurasia plates. Focal mechanism solutions indicate that slip occurred on either a north-striking, steeply-dipping, right-lateral fault, or a west striking, steeply-dipping, left-lateral fault. The finite fault solution indicates a north striking right-lateral fault. This focal mechanism and finite fault solution are consistent with the earthquake potentially occurring on the right-lateral Sagaing Fault that lies in the fault zone that defines the plate boundary between the Indian and Sunda plates.

While commonly plotted as points on maps, earthquakes of this size are more appropriately described as slip over a larger fault area. The finite fault solution, informed by satellite observations, indicates the size of the March 28, 2025 event is about 460 km by 15 km (length x width).

This region has experience similar large strike slip earthquakes, with six other magnitude 7 and larger earthquakes occurring with about 150 miles (250 km) of the March 28, 2025 earthquake since 1900. The most recent of these was a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in January 1990, which caused 32 buildings to fall. A magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred south of today’s earthquake in February 1912. Within this broad zone of tectonic deformation, other large earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1988, have caused dozens of fatalities.

The 2025 M 7.7 Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) Earthquake - interactive geonarrative.

Preliminary geodetic remote sensing analysis and fault rupture mapping can be accessed HERE. These results will be updated periodically.

Ref #13456:

Tectonic Summary

The March 28, 2025, M7.7 earthquake near Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar), occurred as the result of strike slip faulting between the India and Eurasia plates. Focal mechanism solutions indicate that slip occurred on either a north-striking, steeply-dipping, right-lateral fault, or a west striking, steeply-dipping, left-lateral fault. The finite fault solution indicates a north striking right-lateral fault. This focal mechanism and finite fault solution are consistent with the earthquake potentially occurring on the right-lateral Sagaing Fault that lies in the fault zone that defines the plate boundary between the Indian and Sunda plates.

While commonly plotted as points on maps, earthquakes of this size are more appropriately described as slip over a larger fault area. The finite fault solution, informed by satellite observations, indicates the size of the March 28, 2025 event is about 460 km by 15 km (length x width).

This region has experience similar large strike slip earthquakes, with six other magnitude 7 and larger earthquakes occurring with about 150 miles (250 km) of the March 28, 2025 earthquake since 1900. The most recent of these was a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in January 1990, which caused 32 buildings to fall. A magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred south of today’s earthquake in February 1912. Within this broad zone of tectonic deformation, other large earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1988, have caused dozens of fatalities.

Reference #13981, 13983, 13985, 13988, 13991, 13992, 13994, 13995, 14003, 14004 (as of 23 April):

The 7.7 magnitude quake hit Friday, with the epicenter near Myanmar’s second-largest city of Mandalay. It damaged the city’s airport, buckled roads and collapsed hundreds of buildings along a wide swath down the country’s center.

Myanmar Red Cross Society reports nearly 3 900 people have died [3869], most of them in the Mandalay Region (2 483 fatalities), followed by Naypyidaw Union Territory (657), Sagaing Region (615), Bago Region (81), and Shan State (33), 441 missing and 5,742 injured. ASEAN reports: DDM has recorded 3,757 deaths, 5,107 injuries and 116 missing. 55,587 Houses (12,441 totally damaged and 43,146 partially damaged). 3,938,739.005 million MMK worth of damage and losses (about 1.9 billion USD) (Note: does not include damages outside of Myanmar)

In Thailand 58 fatalities and 38 injuries. Reported damages on infrastructure are the following: 1,389 houses

Ref #14089:

On 28 March 2025, an Mw 7.8 shallow strike-slip earthquake ruptured ∼480 km of the 1200 km long Sagaing fault extending north–south across central Myanmar. This active right-lateral fault hosted six major earthquakes in the twentieth century and locates along the two largest cities of Myanmar, constituting a major seismic hazard […] The ∼480 km long rupture of the 2025 Myanmar earthquake is exceptionally long for an Mw 7.8 strike-slip rupture

Ref #14197:

Official reports (as of late April) indicate the earthquake caused around 3,800 fatalities, with over 5,000 injuries, over 207,000 displaced and hundreds still missing […] The total damage to physical assets is estimated at US$10.97 billion (14 percent of GDP or 5 percent of the total capital stock. (Note: does not include damages outside of Myanmar)

Ref #1250:

Myanmar: 3820 deaths, 5104 injured, 11 billion USD in damages; China (Ruili city (Yunnan province); Guizhou, Guangxci, Sichuan provinces): 2 injured; Thailand: 54 deaths, 38 injured

Ref #14256:

4500 total fatalities; 12 billion USD in losses

Ref #14321:

4653 fatalities; 14.51 billion USD in losses