Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) Report : Myanmar Earthquake - March 28, 2025

Overview & Synopsis

This Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report presents a rapid estimate of the direct economic damage to physical assets (building and infrastructure) from the moment magnitude (Mw) 7.7 earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025. The assessment does not consider the losses or needs of the event. It is intended to support response planning, inform recovery strategies, and guide future risk reduction interventions. This event is Myanmar’s most impactful earthquake since the 1912 Maymyo earthquake, or even the 1839 Ava earthquake, which had a magnitude estimated between 7.9 to 8.3. It is also likely to be the deadliest in the country’s recorded history. The earthquake caused intense ground shaking across the densely populated central corridor, resulting in building failures, widespread fatalities, destruction of critical infrastructure, and major disruptions to social and economic systems. The situation is further complicated by the country’s political instability. This report includes (i) a characterization of the seismic event, (ii) the development of an updated exposure model of Myanmar’s built environment, (iii) an estimation of economic damage to buildings and infrastructure, and (iv) a high-level discussion on the potential socio-economic and recovery implications of the disaster. It draws on seismic data, preliminary satellite damage assessments, building exposure models, and information from available reports from humanitarian agencies and development partners.