Government sources in Myanmar confirmed that a 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred in Sagaing at 11:50 local time on March 28. On the same day at approximately 12:02 local time, a 6.4 magnitude aftershock struck the same area. Both events occurred at a depth of 10 km/6.21 miles and caused authorities to declare a state of emergency for Myanmar’s Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, the north-east of Shan State, Bago, and the Naypyidaw regions. The tremors have reportedly damaged roads across Naypyidaw, Saigang, and Mandalay, Myanmar, including the Yangon-Mandalay highway. The Mandalay and Saigang areas have also experienced electricity and network outages due to downed power lines. While the exact number of casualties is unknown at the time of writing, the death toll in Myanmar is expected to be in the hundreds.
Associated tremors were also recorded in China’s southwest Yunnan province and northern Thailand. A state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok, Thailand, following damage to several buildings in the city. Authorities in the city have also suspended public transport and rail services as the strong tremors have caused damages to roads and rail lines and safety assessments must be made. While the automotive sector has reported some disruptions following the earthquake, confirmed production impacts thus far have been limited. Production and logistics disruptions are likely to expand amid continued safety assessments and measures.
Logistics and automotive sectors report disruptions following dual tremors
Logistics disruptions have been reported in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyidaw, Myanmar, and Bangkok, Thailand. Roadways, bridges, and rail lines have sustained damages from the earthquake and the aftershock. The Ava Bridge, also called the Old Sagaing Bridge connecting Mandalay and Sagaing, collapsed, while some sections of the highway connecting Mandalay and Yangon have reportedly been damaged. Flight operations have been impacted as well. Despite confirming that damages have not been incurred at Yangon International Airport, national flag carrier Myanmar National Airlines reported an unspecified number of flight cancelations. Mandalay International Airport located in Tada-U, Myanmar, however, has reportedly suffered serious structural damages. The volume of flight delays and cancelations in Mandalay has not yet been disclosed. In Thailand, a brief flight suspension was implemented at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and a sustained suspension of railway operations is underway while authorities inspect routes for damage between Krung Thep Apiwat Central Terminal and Rangsit stations.
Though confirmed production disruptions have thus far been limited, the volume is likely to expand amid continued damage assessments and subsequent measures. The automotive sector in Thailand has reported some disruptions, with Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. suspending operations at their production facilities following the tremors. Honda temporarily halted production at its plant in Uthai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand, but it has since resumed. Meanwhile, Nissan continues its production halt at its plant in Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan, Thailand. Evacuations are taking place across Bangkok following the collapse of a high-rise building in Chatuchak, leaving four people dead and 80 people still missing. Due to the uncertainty around the structural safety of nearby buildings, further production impacts are expected to occur.
Everstream clients are receiving more detailed insights and recommendations about this risk.
Don’t miss key supply chain risk updates! Subscribe now to get supply chain news, weather updates, forecasts, and other insights.