New earthquake shakes central Myanmar, one of the biggest aftershocks since March 28 disaster

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes near Meiktila, Myanmar, adding to devastation from previous 7.7 quake, impacting relief efforts.

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck on Sunday (April 13, 2025) morning near Meiktila, a small city in central Myanmar, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake came as Myanmar is engaged in relief efforts following a massive 7.7 magnitude temblor that also hit the country's central region on March 28. The epicentre of the latest quake was roughly hallway between Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, which suffered enormous damage and casualties in last month's earthquake, and Naypyitaw, the capital, where several government offices were then damaged.

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There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties caused by the new quake, one of the strongest of hundreds of aftershocks from the March 28 temblor. As of Friday (April 11, 2025), the death toll from that quake was 3,649, with 5,018 injured, according to Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government.

Myanmar’s Meteorological Department said Sunday's (April 13, 2025) quake occurred in the area of Wundwin township, 97 km south of Mandalay, at a depth of 20 km. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the depth at 7.7 km.

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Two Wundwin residents told The Associated Press by phone the quake was so strong that people rushed out of buildings and that ceilings in some dwellings were damaged. A resident of Naypyitaw also reached by phone said he did not feel the latest quake. Those contacted asked not to be named for fear of angering the military government, which prefers to closely control information.