UNU-INWEH Incident Brief: 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,
doi: https://doi.org/10.53328/INR24MSIR002
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On March 28, 2025, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, representing the country's deadliest seismic event in nearly a century. The earthquake resulted in widespread devastation, with estimates of 3,600 to 5,350 fatalities and over 11,000 injuries in Myanmar.
This incident brief from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) provides a rapid assessment of the damage using Sentinel-1 satellite radar data. The analysis focused on seven hard-hit cities: Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, Madaya, Kyaukse, Sagaing, Shwebo, and Woundwin. Findings indicate that over 157,000 buildings were likely damaged, leaving approximately 200,000 people without homes. The percentage of damaged buildings varied significantly across the cities, from 20% in Shwebo to as high as 73% in Woundwin.
The catastrophic loss of life and property was a direct result of the collapse of vulnerable building types, such as unreinforced masonry. This was exacerbated by systemic failures in enforcing the Myanmar National Building Code 2016 and the complexities of the ongoing political situation. The earthquake also severely damaged critical infrastructure, destroying at least three hospitals, and damaging numerous cultural heritage sites, including ancient pagodas and historical structures in Innwa and Mandalay Palace.
The paper underscores that Myanmar's seismic vulnerability stems from a complex mix of technical deficits, governance challenges, and socio-economic fragilities. It calls for comprehensive mitigation strategies, including upgrading and enforcing seismic building codes, retrofitting critical infrastructure, and advancing land-use planning to reduce exposure in hazard-prone areas. The event highlights the vital role that modern remote sensing technologies and AI can play in guiding emergency response and building resilience to protect both lives and legacies from future disasters.
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