Banda Aceh – The Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) successfully organized the 34th Seminar Series on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The event was held online via Zoom with the theme: “Lessons Learned from the 7.7 Mw March 28, 2025 Mandalay-Myanmar Earthquake: Field Data and Building Assessment.”
This seminar was attended by 88 participants from diverse backgrounds, including students, academics, and researchers who were interested in the topics discussed. Prof. Natt Leelawat delivered the presentations from DRMIS Chulalongkorn University, Prof. Muksin from TDMRC Syiah Kuala University, Ir. Adrial Ulza, M.Sc. from TDMRC Syiah Kuala University, and Prof. Anawat Suppasri from IRIDeS Tohoku University. Dr. Yunita Idris moderated the event from TDMRC Universitas Syiah Kuala.
In this seminar series, each speaker presented their insights on the Mandalay earthquake from different perspectives:
Prof. Natt Leelawat discussed the chaotic situation in Bangkok during the earthquake, particularly the traffic congestion that severely hampered evacuation efforts. He stated, “The earthquake that occurred in Thailand on March 28, 2025, will be an important lesson for the future. With the presence of best practices in Thailand, we can strengthen national preparedness and reduce the impact of future disasters.” He also emphasized that Thailand’s experience during the March 28, 2025, Mandalay earthquake highlighted the importance of integrated urban resilience strategies and increased public awareness. By adopting regional best practices, national disaster preparedness can be significantly improved.
Prof. Muksin explained the source of the Mandalay earthquake. He concluded, “The right-lateral movement along the Sagaing Fault caused the Mandalay earthquake. Major earthquakes can occur not only along the Sagaing Fault but also along the Indo-Burma convergence zone. This earthquake was very shallow, with a depth of about 26 kilometers, and occurred along a fault line that is close to densely populated areas.”
Ir. Adrial Ulza, M. Sc. focused on the impact of the earthquake on both high-rise and low-rise buildings. He explained, “The collapse of buildings during an earthquake can be related to factors such as design quality, building maintenance, and reevaluation of seismic loads. Earthquake resistance efforts should not focus solely on high-rise buildings but also consider low-rise ones commonly inhabited by the general population.” He emphasized, “While efforts are made to protect high-rise buildings, we must not overlook the vulnerability of low-rise structures most frequently used by our communities.”
Prof. Anawat Suppasri discussed the soil characteristics in Bangkok, Thailand. He mentioned that the earthquake on March 28, 2025, set a new world record by causing building damage at a distance of 1,000 km from the epicenter. This occurred due to the extremely soft soil conditions in Bangkok, which can amplify seismic waves. He added, “In soft soil conditions, waves can increase in amplitude. For high-rise buildings, the natural frequency is similar to that of long-period waves, which makes them more prone to swaying or movement compared to low-rise buildings”.
The seminar proved to be a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge and fostering greater understanding of seismic events and their broader implications for urban resilience, building design, and disaster management strategies.
