Earthquake Myanmar – 28 March 2025
On March 28, 2025, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, with its epicenter located in Sagaing Region, near the city of Mandalay. The event caused widespread destruction across multiple regions. Myanmar sits atop the convergence of four major tectonic plates, making it one of the most geologically active regions in the world.
Initial reports indicate over 3,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including at least 150 historical religious sites, such as mosques, pagodas, and Buddhist monasteries. The worst-hit areas include Sagaing (80% destroyed), Mandalay, and the southern townships of Nyaungshwe, Kalaw, and Pinlaung.
MYANMAR
EARTHQUAKE
MAGNITUDE 7.7
Heritage Sites within the AOI
This map displays the location of the March 28, 2025 earthquake epicenter, the modeled intensity zones (Mw 3-9) based on USGS data, and the distribution of cultural heritage sites across Myanmar, compiled $ from UNESCO World Heritage listings and OpenStreetMap contributions.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total potentially exposed heritage sites | 20.500 |
| Classified / protected sites exposed | 743 |
| UNESCO World Heritage sites exposed | 10 |
| Estimated high-risk heritage sites (HWAI index) | 186 |
| Heritage site density within AOI | 33/ km² |
Heritage Sites
Unesco Heritage SItes
Historical Sites
Amenities
Heritage Sites Potentially Exposed
This map visualizes the spatial relationship between heritage sites and earthquake intensity zones by categorizing sites based on the magnitude range they fall within, using overlay analysis between intensity bands and standardized heritage point data.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Sites exposed to MMI ≥ 5 | 14865 |
| Sites exposed to MMI ≥ 6 | 7989 |
| Sites exposed to MMI ≥ 7 | 3840 |
| Sites exposed to MMI ≥ 8 | 2434 |
Heritage Exposure by Intensity Gradient
Minimal
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme
Damaged Sites
This map visualizes Cultural Heritage sites observed as damaged through automated satellite-based detection and subsequent expert remote validation following the 28 March 2025 earthquake.
Assessment based exclusively on remote sensing data; no field verification included.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Sites observed as damaged | 231 |
| Sites potentialy affected | 1088 |
Sites observed as damaged
Limitations & contextual indicators
- Damage classification reflects observable surface and structural indicators only.
- Subsurface damage or minor structural impacts may not be detectable through satellite imagery.
- Validation status may evolve as additional imagery becomes available.
- Additional heritage sites are identified as potentially vulnerable based on proximity to clusters of confirmed damaged sites; they are not displayed on this map and are reported separately.
Imagery Footprint Supporting Post-Earthquake
Heritage Monitoring
This map displays the footprint of high-resolution satellite imagery (Maxar, Planet, Sentinel)
available over the affected regions, filtered by Ground Sampling Distance (GSD ≤ 0.5 m) to ensure suitability for damage assessment and overlaid on the seismic impact
Categorized by Date
Categorized by Resolution
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