Bangkok Hit by Myanmar Quake
- A moderate earthquake in eastern Myanmar was felt in Thailand and China on Friday,March 28,2025.
- JAKARTA – An earthquake in Myanmar was felt across Southeast Asia, including in Thailand and China, according to officials.
- Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck eastern myanmar on Friday morning.
Earthquake in Myanmar Felt Across Southeast Asia
A moderate earthquake in eastern Myanmar was felt in Thailand and China on Friday,March 28,2025.
JAKARTA – An earthquake in Myanmar was felt across Southeast Asia, including in Thailand and China, according to officials.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck eastern myanmar on Friday morning. The quake was centered about 47 miles southwest of keng Tung in Shan state.
The USGS initially reported the quake as magnitude 7.7, but later revised the magnitude. The initial report indicated the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) at approximately 13:00 local time, about 17 kilometers from Mandalay City, Myanmar, a city of approximately 1.5 million people.
an aftershock with a magnitude of 6.4 was recorded 12 minutes later approximately 60 kilometers from the initial epicenter. Several more aftershocks were reported.
The earthquake was felt in central and northern Thailand, including Bangkok, and as far as Yunnan province in southwestern China, which borders Myanmar.
According to an expert, the event could be classified as either a single earthquake or a double earthquake, referring to two events of nearly the same magnitude occurring in close proximity in terms of both time and location.
concerns have been raised regarding the severity of damage in Bangkok, despite its distance from the epicenter.
An official stated that the extensive damage in Bangkok is likely due to the city’s geological characteristics, specifically the presence of soft soil and thick layers of sediment, which amplify the effects of long-period vibrations.
Bangkok is a deposit land, [leading] to resonance,
the official explained.
Thick soft soil sediment deposits in Bangkok can respond to earthquakes from afar to form resonance that threaten tall buildings,
he added.
Reports indicate that the earthquake was a shallow earthquake resulting from activity along the sagaing Fault, with a strike-slip mechanism.
The official noted a similar event occurred in 1985, referencing a devastating earthquake in the Cocos subduction zone off the coast of Michoacan, mexico, which registered a magnitude of 8.1.
although the distance of the earthquake epicenter to Mexico City is 350 km, severe damage occurred in Mexico city, most of the 9,500 deaths occurred in Mexico City which was built in the reclaimed Rawa Purba area,
he said.
Reclaimed Land is an unconsolidated material that is very perilous in the event of a strong earthquake,
he added.
The official suggested that the earthquake in Myanmar, felt as far as Thailand and China, could influence seismicity in Indonesia.
Earthquake in Myanmar: Your Questions Answered
introduction
On March 28, 2025, a moderate earthquake struck eastern Myanmar, shaking the region and capturing international attention. This article addresses key questions, providing a complete overview of the event, its impact, and related concerns.
What Happened? Key Details of the Myanmar Earthquake
magnitude and Location: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 5.7 earthquake in eastern Myanmar. The epicenter was located approximately 47 miles southwest of Keng Tung in Shan state.
Initial Reports and Revisions: Initially, the USGS reported a higher magnitude of 7.7. The initial report also indicated the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) at approximately 13:00 local time, about 17 kilometers from Mandalay City, Myanmar, a city of approximately 1.5 million people.
Aftershocks: An aftershock with a magnitude of 6.4 was recorded 12 minutes after the initial quake, followed by several more aftershocks.
Where Was the Earthquake Felt?
The earthquake was felt across a wide area:
Southeast Asia: The earthquake was felt across Southeast Asia, including Thailand and China.
Thailand: Central and northern Thailand, including Bangkok, experienced the tremors.
China: The quake was felt in Yunnan province in southwestern China.
Why Was the Earthquake Felt So Far Away?
The widespread impact of the earthquake is due to several factors:
moderate magnitude: While a magnitude 5.7 earthquake is not unusually high, its effects were amplified by geographic and geological conditions.
Geological Amplification: The terrain in affected regions, such as Bangkok, played a crucial role.
Concerns? Why is Bangkok vulnerable?
Soft Soil and Sediment: Officials have raised concerns regarding the severity of damage in Bangkok. The presence of soft soil and thick layers of sediment amplify the effects of long-period vibrations.
Resonance: The official noted that Bangkok sits on deposit land, leading to resonance. Thick, soft soil sediment deposits can resonate with earthquakes from afar, perhaps threatening tall buildings.
What is a”double earthquake?”
Possible Classification by Experts: According to an expert, the event could be either a single or a double earthquake, with possible two nearly equal-magnitude events in close proximity, both spatially and temporally.
Comparing this Earthquake to Past Events
This event echoes past instances where geological factors amplified earthquake impacts. One is:
1985 Mexico Earthquake: There was a devastating earthquake in the Cocos subduction zone off the coast of Michoacan, Mexico wich registered a magnitude of 8.1. Even though the epicenter was 350 km away from Mexico City, severe damage occurred in Mexico City, where most of the 9,500 deaths occurred. The city’s location on reclaimed land (unconsolidated material) amplified the shaking.
Is this earthquake related to the Sagaing Fault?
Fault: the earthquake was categorized as a shallow earthquake linked with the Sagaing Fault, resulting from a strike-slip mechanism.
Could this impact Indonesia?
Potential Impact: An official suggests that the earthquake in Myanmar could influence seismicity in Indonesia.
Summary of key Data Points
| Region Affected | Magnitude | Initial Report | Key Impact |
| :——————— | :————– | :—————— | :———————————————– |
| Eastern Myanmar | 5.7 | 7.7 | Earthquake felt across Southeast Asia |
| central/Northern Thailand| Felt | – | Amplified by Bangkok’s soil conditions |
| southwestern China | Felt | – | Resonance in Bangkok potentially threatens buildings |