On March 28, 2025, Myanmar experienced a catastrophic seismic event as a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck across several regions, unleashing a devastating toll on both human life and infrastructure. According to a comprehensive new analysis by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), the extensive destruction was overwhelmingly linked to the collapse of structurally vulnerable buildings. This seismic disaster underscored the critical importance of structural resilience and governance in earthquake-prone areas.
The UNU-INWEH research team employed cutting-edge synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data acquired from the Sentinel-1 satellite to conduct a meticulous assessment of the damage across the hardest-hit urban centers, including Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, Madaya, Kyaukse, Sagaing, Shwebo, and Woundwin. This remote sensing technique allowed for rapid, high-resolution mapping of building damage over vast areas, providing unprecedented detail about the spatial extent and severity of destruction caused by seismic shaking.
Analysis revealed an alarming figure exceeding 157,000 buildings categorized as likely damaged. The scale of the devastation deeply affected entire communities, with estimates indicating between 3,600 and 5,350 fatalities and approximately 200,000 individuals displaced from their homes. The city of Woundwin emerged as the epicenter of urban destruction, where 73% of buildings suffered damage, while in Mandalay, a major metropolitan hub, 36% of structures were compromised. This uneven distribution highlights complex factors including building stock, construction quality, and local geology that influenced damage patterns.
Critical infrastructure was not spared: at least three hospitals were completely destroyed, with 22 others suffering partial damage, severely limiting emergency medical response capabilities in the quake’s aftermath. Additionally, the earthquake triggered significant disruptions in vital water supply and energy distribution networks, compounding the humanitarian crisis. This breakdown in essential services emphasized the interdependence of resilient infrastructure systems for disaster risk reduction and community survival.
Cultural heritage sites also bore the brunt of the earthquake’s wrath. Thousands of historical pagodas and ancient monasteries, representing generations of Myanmar’s rich history and religious identity, sustained varying levels of damage. The loss of these structures signifies not only physical destruction but also a profound cultural and psychological impact on local populations whose identities are intertwined with these landmarks.
Dr. Manoochehr Shirzaei, Chief Scientist at UNU-INWEH’s Global Environmental Intelligence Lab and lead author of the report, emphasized that the tragedy, while immense, was not unforeseen. He highlighted that the primary cause of the high mortality and damage rates was the widespread prevalence of non-engineered buildings, specifically unreinforced masonry structures. Such buildings are inherently prone to collapse during seismic events due to their inability to withstand lateral forces generated by ground shaking.
The report detailed how technical deficiencies were compounded by systemic governance challenges. Despite the existence of the Myanmar National Building Code, established in 2016 to improve seismic resilience, enforcement has been inconsistent and inadequate. Political and security complexities within Myanmar further hinder efforts to implement effective building regulations and disaster preparedness strategies, leaving vulnerable populations at continued risk.
This event is illustrative of the multifaceted nature of seismic vulnerability, where technical inadequacies intersect with socio-political realities. The report underscores how seismic risk cannot be fully managed through engineering solutions alone but requires integrated approaches that encompass institutional capacity building, public education, and community engagement. Such multidimensional strategies are essential for breaking the cycle of recurring disaster losses.
Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, stressed that the devastating impacts of earthquakes are largely preventable. He argued for a transformative shift toward embracing building codes, land-use planning, and public safety measures as critical pillars of public health policy. This includes fostering a culture of safety that prioritizes resilience as a foundational element of societal well-being, especially in seismically active regions such as Myanmar.
The report put forth a series of actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing future resilience. Central among these is the urgent need to adopt and rigorously enforce modern seismic building codes, recognizing their cost-effectiveness and lifesaving potential. This demand extends beyond new construction to include retrofitting existing vulnerable buildings, a crucial step for safeguarding critical facilities such as hospitals and schools.
Moreover, the research highlighted the importance of preserving cultural heritage through specialized retrofitting techniques designed to protect irreplaceable historical sites without compromising their integrity. Complementary to structural measures, sound land-use planning is advocated to limit developments in zones with elevated seismic hazards, thereby minimizing future exposure.
Education and capacity building form another cornerstone of the proposed strategy. The report identifies a pressing necessity for investment in public awareness programs, disaster education initiatives, and comprehensive training for engineers and builders. Such efforts ensure that earthquake mitigation measures are not only designed properly but also understood, accepted, and effectively implemented on the ground.
This pioneering rapid damage assessment employing remote sensing and artificial intelligence exemplifies how modern technology can revolutionize disaster response. By providing real-time insights into the scale and geography of destruction, these tools enable more efficient prioritization of emergency aid and reconstruction efforts, ultimately saving lives and optimizing resource allocation during critical periods.
As Myanmar grapples with the aftermath of this seismic catastrophe, the lessons learned resonate globally, particularly for other vulnerable regions where urban growth, governance challenges, and seismic risk converge. A paradigm shift toward resilience, driven by science, policy reform, and community participation, is indispensable to mitigating the devastating consequences of future earthquakes.
In sum, the March 2025 Myanmar earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the high human and socioeconomic costs linked to neglecting structural safety and institutional preparedness. Harnessing technological advancements alongside holistic governance reforms offers a pathway toward sustainable disaster risk reduction, turning tragedies into opportunities for lasting societal transformation.
Subject of Research: Building damage assessment and seismic vulnerability in Myanmar following the March 2025 earthquake.
Article Title: Building Damage Assessment of the March 2025 Myanmar Earthquake
News Publication Date: 2025
Web References:
https://unu.edu/inweh/collection/building-damage-assessment-march-2025-myanmar-earthquake
https://doi.org/10.53328/INR24MSIR002
References:
Shirzaei, M., Awasthi, S., Oyedele, E. O., Khorrami, M, Kamaraj, N., Werth, S., Matin, M., Madani, K. (2025). Building Damage Assessment of the March 2025 Myanmar Earthquake, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.
Keywords:
Myanmar earthquake 2025, seismic vulnerability, building damage, unreinforced masonry, earthquake resilience, Sentinel-1 SAR, disaster risk reduction, seismic building codes, retrofitting, infrastructure damage, cultural heritage loss, remote sensing in disaster response
