The Earth is Cracking at the Seams: Details and Consequences of the M7.7 Earthquake in Myanmar

On March 28, a devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, shaking much of Southeast Asia — including Thailand, China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The epicenter was near Mandalay, a city with over 1 million residents. The quake's hypocenter lay just 10 km below the surface, making the seismic shock extremely powerful.

In central and northwestern Myanmar, over 10,000 buildings were either destroyed or severely damaged. Roads and bridges collapsed, temples, mosques, and centuries-old historic monuments crumbled. Mandalay International Airport was shut down after its control tower collapsed. Power and phone lines went completely dead. Train tracks twisted like they were made of plasticine. Landslides cut off regions from the outside world.

All this made it extremely difficult — or even impossible — for rescuers and humanitarian aid to reach affected areas in time. With limited specialized equipment, both rescue workers and relatives of those trapped in the rubble had to dig by hand, enduring extreme heat above 40°C and a lack of food and water.

As of April 2, official figures report 3,003 dead and over 4,600 injured. However, the true scale of devastation and loss of life may be much higher. Words cannot fully capture the horror unfolding in the region. With hospitals destroyed, medics treated the wounded out in the open. Bodies trapped under debris began decomposing in the heat. The earthquake has worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

This quake ranks among the most powerful in the country's history over the past century and has drawn expert attention due to its unusual characteristics. It triggered a rupture up to 400 km long along the Sagaing Fault, which runs north to south through Myanmar. The rupture's propagation speed was comparable to that of a supersonic jet.

A seismologist from the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences classified this event as a "supershear" earthquake — an extremely rare type in which rupture energy moves through the ground at exceptional speed. Supershear effects concentrate seismic energy ahead of the rupture, amplifying destruction even far from the epicenter.

Proof of this came in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, located nearly 1,000 km away. A 30-story building under construction collapsed, killing at least 22 people and trapping over 70 under the debris. Skyscrapers swayed so violently that water from rooftop pools sloshed over in waves, even knocking people over. Cracks appeared in thousands of buildings.

It’s worth noting that at the end of March, there was a sharp spike in global seismic activity. In just 12 days, 11 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher were recorded.

This and other natural disasters from the week of March 26 to April 1 are covered in our latest video.

Cataclysms are gaining momentum — it’s impossible to ignore. More people are waking up to this reality, talking about it,and sharing their experiences. Even in the comments under news reports, you can feel the concern and compassion people express from all over the world.

We also want to sincerely thank our viewers for your thoughtful and heartfelt comments. Your support and empathy for those already affected by disasters mean a lot.

But here’s what’s puzzling: many people notice individual events but don’t connect them into a bigger picture. They see the consequences, but don’t ask why it’s happening. And most importantly — they don’t see a way out. But there is one. That’s exactly what our videos are about.

Why is this? Maybe people are waiting for the day the news finally presents a ready-made solution? Or, even better, that cataclysms will simply stop threatening our planet?

But that’s not how it works. Real conversations about the root causes and solutions to natural disasters will only happen on the global stage if people demand answers and action.

Right now, it’s mostly scientists, researchers, and volunteers speaking up. We’re proud to be among them — and we hope you’ll join us too.