On 28 March, a powerful earthquake that is estimated to measure 7.9 on the Richter scale (reported as of 2:47 pm [GMT+7] on 28 March) rocked central Myanmar, sending tremours far beyond its borders. The epicentre, located near the city of Mandalay, was shallow at just 10 kilometres deep, causing significant damage that include the collapse of bridges and buildings.
Tremours were felt across northern Thailand, even reaching the capital city of Bangkok. Buildings swayed and water cascaded over from rooftop pools, resulting in people evacuating from buildings while schools and businesses announced temporary closure due to the quake. A high-rise building under construction in Bangkok collapsed.
Myanmar, which is already grappling with political instability and limited resources, faces a more dire situation. The infrastructure in rural areas is particularly vulnerable, and the local medical system struggles to provide adequate support.
The earthquake also impacted parts of China, including the Yunnan province.