Myanmar earthquake: India’s National Seismology Centre says soil liquefaction has caused severe damage

Rescue workers at Chatuchak site where skyscrapers collapsed in Bangkok, Thailand resumed operations on March 29, 2025. After the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar, Bangkok found itself in an unprecedented state of paralysis on March 28, 2025. Image source: Getty Images

The National Center for Seismology (NCS), an earthquake striking attack on Myanmar and Thailand on the afternoon of Friday (March 28, 2025) caused severe damage as its shaking matches the natural vibration of the building.

NCS head Op Mishra said soil liquefaction is also the main cause of damage.

Soil liquefaction occurs during strong earthquakes and the ground begins to be like liquid rather than solid land.

This usually occurs in sandy areas near rivers or coasts, such as loose areas of sandy areas. When the local earthquake shakes the ground, the water between the soil particles will dismantle it, causing the soil to lose its strength.

Mr Mishra explained that as a result, buildings, roads and other buildings may sink, tilt or collapse.

He said that Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, which is more than 1,000 kilometers away from the epicenter of Mandalay, Myanmar, suffered major damage to it due to the direction of the rupture.

The NCS said seven aftershocks, ranging from 3.5 to 7, with the main earthquake of magnitude 7.5, hit Mandalay around 11:50 AM (IST).

Major earthquakes and their aftershocks were also felt in northeast India.

The agency said the earthquake was caused by the Sagan fault, a major fault line located 1,200 kilometers east of the India-Berma subduction zone. Energy from the earthquake spread to Bangkok.

Another major cause of damage is that the frequency of earthquake tremors matches the natural vibration of buildings, making people more vulnerable, the NCS said.

“The direction of the rupture is towards Bangkok, which has caused serious damage to the structure in the region due to the matching of liquefaction and earthquake shock frequencies with the spectral frequency of the structure,” it said.

A strong magnitude 7 aftershock occurred just 12 minutes later, about 90 kilometers southwest of the center of the first earthquake, NCS said.

It said the region has experienced major earthquakes in the past, including the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in 1912 and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 1956.

Media reports said at least three people were killed in Bangkok, and dozens were buried when a high-rise building collapsed.

The report said the government of Myanmar’s military operations has announced it has been announced in six regions and states, including the capital New York State and Mandalay.