Breaking News
7.7 Quake Rocks Myanmar, Turns Major Hospital into Chaos Zone
A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay early this morning, collapsing buildings and prompting authorities to declare a “mass casualty incident” at the region’s largest hospital. The quake – the strongest to hit the country in over 50 years – has already claimed at least 87 lives with hundreds feared trapped under rubble.
Critical Updates (Live)
A brutal 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar near Mandalay at 3:17 AM PDT today, March 28, 2025, flattening buildings and overwhelming the region’s biggest hospital. It’s the worst shake-up Myanmar’s seen in decades, with deaths climbing and rescue crews scrambling.
- Epicenter: 17 km from Mandalay, 10 km deep—USGS pinned it tight.
- Hardest Hit: Mandalay, Sagaing, Naypyidaw—roads buckled, homes gone.
- Hospital Crisis: Naypyidaw’s 1,000-bed facility declared a “mass casualty area”—hundreds flooding in.
- Aftershocks: 6 jolts over 4.0 in three hours, keeping nerves raw.
At the time of the #Earthquake, some people were on the MRT and luckily the swaying moment had already stopped at the station. So, everyone ran out quickly while the station floor was swinging. #Thailand #Bangkok #Myanmar #แผ่นดินไหว pic.twitter.com/1XlClCWkfH
— कृतिका शर्मा (@Kriti_Sanatani) March 28, 2025
Ground Zero: Naypyidaw Hospital Nightmare
- Swamped: The 1,000-bed hospital’s a war zone—patients spilling onto lawns, staff stretched thin.
- Structural Hit: Part of the building’s down—ICU’s a mess, trapping doctors and the sick.
- Lights Out: Power’s gone, surgeries lit by flashlights and car beams.
- Body Count: Mobile morgues rolling in—20 confirmed dead, toll’s rising fast.
International Response
- Neighbors Step Up: India’s NDRF and Thailand’s teams are en route with dogs and gear.
- Landslide Alert: USGS says hills around Mandalay could slide—more trouble brewing.
- Aid Rush: Red Cross is pushing blood and supplies to the frontlines.
Why This Quake Hit So Hard
- Shallow Shake: At 10 km, it rattled the surface like a bomb.
- Old Bones: Crumbly brick buildings—common here—didn’t stand a chance.
- Dead of Night: Most were asleep at 3:17 AM—caught off guard indoors.
Eyewitness Account
- “The walls split open—boom, like thunder. We’re patching people up outside under headlights,” says a Naypyidaw ER doc, voice shaky.
Regional Seismic Risks
- Fault Line Life: Myanmar’s on the Sagaing Fault—quakes are in its blood.
- Last Big One: 6.8 in 2016 took 3 lives—today’s dwarfed it (web ID 23).
- More to Come: Experts say aftershocks could rattle on for days.
How to Help
- Pitch in cash to the Myanmar Red Cross—they’re in the thick of it.
- Skip travel to Mandalay or Naypyidaw—roads are toast, help’s priority.
- Spread legit emergency numbers—keep the rumor mill quiet.
