29-3-2025 (YANGON) Myanmar’s central region has been struck by a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake, leaving a trail of destruction and mounting casualties. Military authorities have confirmed at least 694 fatalities in the Mandalay region, with the number of injured persons surpassing 1,670.
The historic city of Mandalay, Myanmar’s cultural heartland and second-largest urban centre, bore significant structural damage as the earth continued to tremor. Adding to the region’s vulnerability, a series of aftershocks—14 in total—rippled through the area, with the most significant being a 6.7-magnitude tremor mere minutes after the initial quake.
The United States Geological Survey’s monitoring systems revealed a concerning pattern of seismic activity. The aftershocks, predominantly ranging between magnitudes 3 and 5, created a linear formation stretching north to south from the primary earthquake zone. Two particularly notable tremors, including the 6.7-magnitude aftershock and a 4.9-magnitude event, struck approximately 20 miles from Mandalay’s city centre.
The situation remains precarious as rescue operations continue, with authorities reporting 68 individuals still unaccounted for in the Mandalay region.
