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At noon on March 28th, a notable seismic event occurred, causing widespread tremors that were clearly felt in many provinces and cities across Vietnam.
According to the Institute of Geophysics, at 13:20:57 (Hanoi time) on March 28, 2025, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred at coordinates (21.71 degrees North latitude, 96.02 degrees East longitude), with a focal depth of approximately 10 km. The earthquake occurred in the Myanmar region. The Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center - Institute of Earth Sciences is continuing to monitor this earthquake.
High-rise buildings in Bangkok are reduced to rubble after the earthquake.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website shows this earthquake as having a magnitude of 7.7. Affected countries include Bangladesh, India, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and China.
Bloomberg reports that the strong earthquake in Myanmar could be clearly felt in Bangkok, Thailand, prompting people to go outside.
In Bangkok, tremors triggered air raid sirens around 1:30 PM, causing residents to evacuate high-rise buildings and hotels in central Bangkok.
No damage or casualties have been reported in Myanmar as a result of the earthquake so far.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) measured the earthquake in Myanmar at 7.9 on the Richter scale, and tremors could be felt in Yunnan, China.
At the time of the incident, approximately 50 workers were inside the building. Of those, 7 managed to escape, while 43 remained trapped.
From the capital Hanoi, the economic hub Ho Chi Minh City, to the coastal city of Da Nang, and even the northern mountainous provinces such as Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An, people have felt prolonged tremors. This phenomenon has caused considerable anxiety and discussion in the community.
Many people in Vietnam rushed into the streets after the earthquake's aftershocks.
According to scientists, the epicenter of this earthquake was located in central Myanmar, about 50km east of the city of Monywa. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake's magnitude as 7.7 on the moment scale. However, Vietnam's Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center provided a different figure, confirming the earthquake as having a magnitude of 7.3. This difference may be due to variations in measurement methods and equipment used.
The earthquake, with its immense magnitude and shallow epicenter, created an extremely wide area of impact, spreading seismic waves to many countries in the region. The force of this earthquake meant that tremors could be felt over vast distances, beyond national borders.
Many residents in affected areas like Hanoi shared that they felt two tremors separated by about 20 minutes. The first, strongest tremor occurred at 1:20 PM, lasting for an extended period and causing doors, cupboards, and furniture to rattle, with hanging objects fluctuating at angles of 15-20 degrees. The subsequent aftershock was milder.
According to many experts, people living in areas with weak geological foundations, such as soft or clay soils, will feel stronger tremors than those in areas with firmer geological foundations. Similarly, people living in high-rise buildings will also feel earthquake vibrations more distinctly, as the structure of these buildings tends to amplify the vibrations.
The earthquake left behind many unfortunate consequences.
In 2012, Myanmar experienced a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake in the Mandalay region, causing significant damage. In 2016, the country was hit by another 6.8 magnitude earthquake near Bagan, shaking many ancient temples.
However, the earthquake this afternoon (March 28) is the largest ever recorded in the country. On the moment scale, an earthquake with a magnitude above 7.0 is classified as a major earthquake, capable of causing serious destruction. This earthquake was slightly less intense than the 2008 Sichuan earthquake (China) (magnitude 7.9), which claimed the lives of 70,000 people.
