A catastrophic earthquake has struck Thailand and Myanmar this morning, March 28, 2025, triggering widespread devastation and raising fears of significant loss of life. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) initially projected potential casualties ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 following the initial 7.7 magnitude quake that struck near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city. Compounding the disaster, a second earthquake, measuring 6.4 in magnitude, struck the same area just 12 minutes later, according to both the USGS and Germany's GFZ.

In the aftermath of the seismic events, a major hospital in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, declared a 'mass casualty area.' The anticipated rise in the death toll stems from the collapse of buildings and the widespread scattering of debris. Professor Ian Main, a seismology expert at the University of Edinburgh, assessed that the damage near the epicenter is likely to be 'very severe.'

Early reports from the ground indicate significant destruction. In Mandalay, a mosque collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least ten worshippers. Shocking video footage from neighboring Thailand captured the collapse of a high-rise building under construction, prompting workers to flee in terror. While dozens of workers have been rescued from the site, local authorities report that approximately 90 remain missing. At least three deaths have been confirmed at the construction site.

The earthquake's impact reverberated throughout Thailand. In Bangkok, alarms sounded in buildings, prompting the evacuation of residents and tourists from high-rise structures and hotels. People sought refuge in the streets, attempting to find shade from the intense midday sun as aftershocks continued. The force of the earthquake was such that water sloshed out of swimming pools, even those located high above street level in elevated high-rises.

Eyewitness accounts from Bangkok paint a picture of widespread panic and chaos. Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland, recounted the sudden and violent movement of the building he was in, triggering screams and panic as people attempted to evacuate. Many, including hotel guests in bathrobes and swimming costumes, fled into the streets as water cascaded from elevated pools. Thousands sought safety in Benjasiri Park, away from the surrounding tall buildings.

The disaster compounds the existing challenges faced by Myanmar, which is currently embroiled in a civil war. At a 1,000-bed general hospital in the capital, medical personnel were overwhelmed with the injured, treating patients outside the emergency department. In Mandalay, the earthquake damaged parts of the former royal palace and other buildings, as evidenced by images and videos circulating on social media. While the region is known to be earthquake-prone, the area is generally sparsely populated, and most buildings are low-rise structures.

Additional reports detail further infrastructure damage. In the Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed. Sections of the highway connecting Mandalay and Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, also sustained damage. In Naypyitaw, religious shrines were damaged, and some homes were affected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated its emergency management system in response to the earthquake and is mobilizing its logistics hub in Dubai to prepare and distribute trauma injury supplies. The WHO is coordinating its response from its headquarters in Geneva, recognizing the event as a 'huge' threat to life and health. The agency is prioritizing the delivery of trauma supplies and essential medicines, acknowledging the potential damage to Myanmar's health infrastructure. Drawing on lessons learned from the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, the WHO is focusing on efficiently delivering the most critical supplies first. The WHO already has a dedicated team addressing the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and had recently completed an assessment of the most effective methods for delivering aid into the country. The organization is now gathering information from the ground to determine the specific needs and locations requiring immediate assistance.