Bangkok Shaken by 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake: Emergency Evacuations Underway

A powerful earthquake originating in neighboring Myanmar struck Bangkok on the morning of March 28, 2025, creating chaos across the city. Seismologists reported a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale, with the epicenter located just 10 kilometers beneath the earth’s surface. The tremors reached the capital of Thailand, where residents in high-rise buildings experienced significant shaking and swaying.

Social media was flooded with videos capturing the pandemonium, including footage of water splashing from pools on upper floors of skyscrapers, spilling onto balconies and heightening anxiety among residents. In response to the crisis, city officials swiftly initiated an evacuation of multi-story buildings, urging individuals to leave potentially hazardous areas in anticipation of possible aftershocks.

The earthquake’s epicenter was identified as being 289 kilometers southwest of Phop Phra district in Tak province, along the Thai-Myanmar border. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the tremors were felt not only in Bangkok but also in other regions of Thailand, including Chiang Mai and Nonthaburi provinces. While the situation closer to the epicenter in Myanmar may be more severe, there are currently no confirmed reports of damage or casualties.

Eyewitness accounts from Bangkok described harrowing scenes as people fled office buildings and residential complexes, with streets quickly becoming congested. In several high-rise structures, emergency warning systems were activated to facilitate the evacuation process. Residents reported cracks appearing in walls and power outages in various parts of the city, although no official statistics on these incidents have yet been released.

The Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning regarding potential aftershocks, advising the public to remain vigilant and avoid re-entering buildings until thorough inspections have been conducted. The rarity of such a powerful earthquake in this region raises concerns about its long-term impact, which may extend beyond Thailand’s borders.