A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, killing over 1600 people and injuring more than 3400. The tremor, which hit northwest of Sagaing in central Myanmar in the early afternoon, was followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock minutes later, causing widespread destruction.
Buildings began to wobble and rooftop pools began to leak water as the strong earthquakes caused the chaos. Videos shared on social media captured the earthquake’s impact, with vehicles trembling and terrified people fleeing into the streets.
In one of the videos, which is viral on social media, a hotel’s rooftop swimming pool in Bangkok erupted abruptly when the area was shaken by the massive earthquake in Myanmar. The video captures the horrifying moment when the peaceful swimming pool descended into chaos.
The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok—its rooftop infinity pool matches the luxurious cityscape setting in the image, with reports of water spilling during the 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28, 2025, centered in Myanmar but felt strongly in Thailand. pic.twitter.com/QXE9dQnZsW
— MASBUNG (@xxxaryadi) March 29, 2025
In the video, a couple was floating in the water on inflatable loungers. As the earthquake struck, massive waves spill over the pool’s sides. The pair quickly swam towards the edge of the pool when the man on the deck gave them an urgent signal to exit. In a matter of time, the entire space was quickly flooded, and later it the water cascaded off the rooftop and onto the streets.
Myanmar Earthquake
The Friday’s earthquake in Myanmar was among the biggest to jolt the Southeast Asian nation in the last century. At least 2,900 structures, 30 highways, and seven bridges were destroyed by the earthquake, according to an initial assessment of Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government. The US Geological Service’s predictive modelling estimated Myanmar’s death toll could exceed 10,000.
