Myanmar's devastating earthquake death toll has crossed 1,640 as more bodies are recovered from rubble. The country and the neighbouring Thailand were rocked by a powerful tremblor and its aftershocks on 28 March 2025 around mid-day.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) one of the aftershocks of the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake measured a strong 6.4 magnitude.
The quake caused roads to buckle, buildings to crumble and led to massive destruction of infrastructure and civic amenities. Its impact was felt in China, India and neighbouring Thailand. The Thai capital Bangkok suffered extensive damages. In Thailand, the death toll has touched 17 even as 83 are still reported missing. Due to the tremors, some metro and light rail services were suspended in Bangkok.
Jolts of the earthquake were also felt in Vietnam. Tremors were also registered in China's southwest Yunnan province, with Beijing's quake agency reporting the jolt as a 7.9 magnitude earthquake.
According to USGS earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, where between 1930 and 1956, six strong quakes of 7.0 and higher magnitude struck near the Sagaing fault, which runs north to south through the centre of the country and stretches for more than 1200km.
Howden Re head of Asia Pacific Andy Souter told Asia Insurance Review, the Sagaing fault in Myanmar is one of the region's most active fault systems. This fault line has historically experienced significant earthquakes, with other notable M7.3+ events in 1931 and 1946 and six M7+ events since 1930.
He said research studies have identified a seismic gap along the Sagaing fault, indicating the potential for a ca. M7.9 earthquake near today's rupture area.
The earthquake epicentre was located in Myanmar. The country has very low insurance penetration. Large portions of the population in this region reside in structures vulnerable to earthquake shaking, with relatively few quake-resistant structures.
Mr Souter said, “This is a significant human tragedy. Unfortunately, there will be a notable protection gap highlighting the continuing need to bring more insurance capital into emerging markets. In comparison to primary perils such as typhoons and floods, earthquake risk in Thailand is considered comparatively low, although earthquake models for the region indicate that they are not unlikely.
“In areas like Bangkok with highly concentrated, high-value properties, it does not take long for losses to accumulate. Typically, the rating for earthquake in Thailand is included within the overall rate for property with deductibles relatively low and similar to those for the main fire peril. Despite low seismic activity in Thailand and other countries in the region like Singapore, their vulnerability to earthquake risks from large, distant events should not be underestimated.”
Howden Re head of international catastrophe model research Dr Myrto Papaspiliou said, “Of Thailand's 76 provinces, only 10, primarily in the northwest, are classified as earthquake risk zones."
Dr Papaspiliou said, “However, Bangkok's deep, soft alluvial soil amplifies shaking, making larger earthquakes from southern China and Myanmar felt in the city and potentially damaging. This was evident during the 2014 Chiang Rai earthquake and, most notably, the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, although the tsunami was a key driver in the latter case.”