Death toll rises to over 2,000 after earthquake rocks Southeast Asia

BANGKOK (AP) - The death toll in an earthquake that struck parts of Southeast Asia on March 28 is still increasing, days after the temblor took place.

According to a report by Singapore-based news outlet CNA on March 31, the death toll in myanmar has passed 2,000, and the country's ruling junta has declared a week of national mourning.

What we know:

According to the Associated Press, the 7.7 magnitude quake's epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city.

The earthquake struck at midday, and was followed by a magnitude 6.4 aftershock. Figures from the U.S. Geological Survey show the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). 

Officials with the USGS say the depth of an earthquake is a factor in the strength of shaking on the surface.

"The strength of shaking from an earthquake diminishes with increasing distance from the earthquake's source, so the strength of shaking at the surface from an earthquake that occurred at 500 km deep is considerably less than if the same earthquake had occurred at 20 km depth," officials wrote.

Quake ravages country in midst of civil war

Dig deeper:

Per a previous report from CNA, Myanmar has lost parts of its territory to armed groups.

In January 2025, the AP reported that violent suppression of public protests following a 2021 coup triggered an armed resistance that has led to a civil war.

According to a 2024 report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 3.3 million people are displaced in the country since the coup, and over half of the population is living below the poverty line due to violence. Another 20 million are in need, the UN said.

Quake also felt in the Thai capital and other areas

As of March 31, the AP is reporting that in Thailand, at least 18 deaths have been reported, with many of the deaths having happened at a construction site where a high-rise that was under construction collapsed. Additionally, 33 others were reported injured, and 78 remain missing.

Video taken during the time of the quake shows the building's collapse.

The building, according to Bangkok-based English language newspaper Bangkok Post, was slated to be the new headquarters for the country's audit office. The country's interior minister has set a seven-day deadline for findings from an investigation into the collapse.