Shallow magnitude 4.2 earthquake rattles Mandalay on eve of 2025 disaster anniversary

Mizzima

A shallow magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Mandalay at 7:36 pm on 26 March, sending panicked residents into the streets just two days before the first anniversary of the country’s deadliest seismic event in a century.

According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), the tremor’s epicentre was located roughly two miles east of Mahaaungmyay Township at a depth of 12 kilometres.

The earthquake was felt strongly throughout Mandalay and in the nearby hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin.

Residents in high-rise buildings reported significant shaking and a loud rumbling sound, with many evacuating their homes in fear of a repeat of the 2025 catastrophe.

A local woman described the experience as a terrifying reminder of the previous year, stating that the intensity and sound of the tremor prompted her to run immediately onto the road.

The timing of this latest tremor has heightened psychological distress across central Myanmar as the region prepared for the one-year anniversary of the 28 March, 2025, earthquake. That magnitude 7.7 disaster claimed over 3,800 lives, displaced more than 1.3 million people, and caused nearly $11 billion in damages across five states and regions.

Recovery efforts remain ongoing, with hundreds of families still residing in temporary shelters and iconic structures like the Ava Bridge and various religious buildings awaiting full reconstruction.

Commemorative events are scheduled for 28 March, to honour the victims of the 2025 disaster. The Mandalay Region Government will lead morning merit-sharing ceremonies at local monasteries, followed by an afternoon session to recognize the rescue teams and volunteers who served on the frontlines of the relief effort.

In the wake of this latest 4.2 magnitude tremor, authorities have reiterated safety warnings, advising residents to maintain earthquake preparedness as the region continues to experience sporadic seismic activity along the Sagaing Fault.