Initial observations and immediate lessons learned from Thailand's response to the 2025 Mandalay earthquake

Abstract

On March 28, 2025, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, with tremors widely felt across Thailand. Bangkok, in particular, experienced severe disruption due to long-period ground motion (LPGM), highlighting the city's vulnerability to distant seismic events. This earthquake represents the most wide-reaching seismic disruption to affect Thailand since the 2004 Aceh Tsunami. This study presents preliminary observations of Thailand's response during the critical first 72 h, focusing on structural damage, emergency coordination, evacuation challenges, and public risk communication. In Bangkok, the collapse of a 30-story construction site resulted in 19 fatalities and 78 missing persons. Vulnerable groups, including people with limited mobility, faced heightened risks due to inaccessible infrastructure. Hospitals struggled to maintain operations while evacuating patients, and misinformation on social media intensified public confusion. This research identifies key policy implications: enhancing building standards to address non-structural elements, institutionalizing regular evacuation drills for high-rise buildings, and accelerating the deployment of nationwide cell broadcast alert systems. The 2025 Mandalay earthquake revealed that seismic events beyond national borders can cascade into multi-dimensional urban crises. The findings underscore the urgency of integrated risk governance frameworks and strengthened regional collaboration across Southeast Asia to prepare for and mitigate cross-border disaster impacts.