Myanmar Earthquake Affects Yunnan, Several Areas Experience Strong Tremors, Houses Damaged

On March 28 at 14:20, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, leading to strong tremors felt in various parts of Yunnan province in mainland China. Buildings were damaged, and people were injured, prompting the authorities to issue a tsunami warning shortly after the event.

According to reports from China National Radio, this earthquake is the 17th occurrence of a magnitude 6 or higher worldwide this year, making it the largest earthquake so far this year. The epicenter was located 294 kilometers from the China-Myanmar border, causing strong tremors in Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna, Dehong, Kunming, Lijiang, Baoshan, Dali, as well as sensations felt in Guizhou and Guangxi.

Later on, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar at 14:32 on March 28 (latitude 21.60 degrees North, longitude 95.95 degrees East), with a depth of 30 kilometers.

In the afternoon of the 28th, the term “Yunnan earthquake” surged to the top trending topic on Weibo.

A resident of Ruili, a town bordering Myanmar, told a reporter that during the earthquake, he was at home on the 26th floor. The tremors were very strong, causing cracks in the walls. He described the building swaying and feeling a sense of fear and near-death experience, expressing regret for living in a high-rise.

Due to the elevator being out of service after the earthquake, he had to walk down from the 26th floor, mentioning that everyone in the building had rushed outside.

Videos on Weibo showed water from a rooftop swimming pool at Ruili’s Wealth Plaza cascading down like a waterfall during the earthquake, with bricks falling. Another video depicted severe swaying of a high-rise building in Dehong, Yunnan, leading residents to evacuate urgently amidst a cloud of dust.

A resident in Kunming shared with a reporter that during the earthquake, he was in his home on the 24th floor. The lamps were close to falling, and the water in his fish tank sloshed out. The shaking was pronounced and lasting. He sought refuge in the bathroom until the shaking subsided before coming out.

A video showed two adjacent tall buildings in Kunming, with the left one visibly swaying, sparking concerns among onlookers.

Additionally, a resident in Dali informed a news outlet that during the earthquake, she was in an upstairs clothing store. The wooden house shook violently, causing dizziness and nausea. Her companion downstairs in the kitchen even mistakenly thought they had low blood sugar.

As reported by CCTV News, as of 5 p.m., traffic and communication in Ruili were normal. Two people sustained minor injuries due to falling walls at Wealth Plaza and were sent to hospitals for treatment. Several old houses were damaged, and assessment of the extent of losses is ongoing.

The China Tsunami Warning Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources stated that based on initial seismic parameters, localized tsunamis may occur around the epicenter, but as the epicenter is located outside the Pacific region, it will not affect the coastal areas of mainland China.