ON March 28, 2025, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay, sending powerful tremors through Thailand and even reaching parts of Peninsular Malaysia.
In Penang, residents reported feeling the ground shake briefly, though no damage or injuries occurred. A Penang office worker, typing at her desk, mistook the tremor for dizziness, only realising it was an earthquake after colleagues rushed outside.
The quake, which killed over 144 in Myanmar and toppled a skyscraper in Bangkok, highlighted the region’s seismic vulnerability, leaving Malaysians stunned as the distant disaster rippled across borders.
Southeast Asia, sitting on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, has a long history of earthquakes, many of which have been felt in Malaysia due to its proximity to tectonic boundaries.
The devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (9.1), off Sumatra, was strongly felt in Malaysia, triggering a tsunami that killed 67 people along its coast. In 2015, a 6.0 magnitude quake in Ranau, Sabah, shook East Malaysia, killing 18 on Mount Kinabalu.
The Myanmar quake underscores Malaysia’s vulnerability to regional seismic activity despite not lying directly on major fault lines.
Statements from the Kementerian Sumber Asli, Alam Sekitar dan Perubahan Iklim in 2023 noted that tectonic collisions could activate ancient faults, increasing earthquake risk.
Elsewhere, Prof Dr Azlan Adnan from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia warned in a 2023 Sinar Daily article that the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia, faces risks of large-scale quakes, with Peninsular Malaysia potentially seeing up to magnitude 6 and Sabah up to magnitude 7.
Similarly, Prof Dr Felix Tongkul from Universiti Malaysia Sabah has emphasised Sabah’s vulnerability due to active fault lines, urging preparedness despite lower risks compared to neighbouring countries.
These warnings stem from Malaysia’s proximity to seismic zones, despite its relatively stable position on the Sunda Plate.
As of March 29, Myanmar’s military junta reports at least 144 deaths and over 730 injuries, with the toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continue amid collapsed buildings and damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
In Thailand, tremors led to the collapse of a high-rise under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, killing at least 10 and leaving over 100 missing.
Rescue teams, using drones and dogs, are racing against time to find survivors. The quake, felt as far as China, has prompted Myanmar’s junta to make a rare plea for international aid. In Bangkok, a state of emergency has been declared, with public transport halted and buildings evacuated, as aftershocks heighten fears of further destruction. — March 29, 2025
Main photo credit: CBS News
