The devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on March 28, 2025, was a catastrophic event that caused widespread destruction and loss of life. The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, centered just 12 miles from Mandalay, Myanmar, sent shockwaves through the region, causing buildings to crumble, bridges to shatter, and houses to collapse in a matter of seconds. The sheer power of the earthquake was comparable to several hundred nuclear explosions, leading to significant casualties and economic damage.
One of the main reasons for the extensive devastation caused by the earthquake was the lack of earthquake-resistant buildings in the region. Most structures were not built to withstand such a powerful temblor, making them vulnerable to collapse. According to earthquake scientists, the earthquake was a shallow one, occurring relatively close to the Earth’s surface, which amplified its destructive impact.
The root cause of the earthquake can be traced back to the geological history of the region. The collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian plate millions of years ago resulted in the formation of the Himalayas and numerous fault lines in the area. The March 28 earthquake was a massive rupture along the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south strike-slip fault that has been responsible for previous destructive earthquakes.
The intensity of the earthquake was felt far and wide, with close to a million people near the epicenter experiencing violent shaking. The seismic waves traveled along the Sagaing Fault, causing damage in neighboring countries like Thailand. The lack of earthquake-resistant buildings in Myanmar and inadequate building codes contributed to the extensive damage caused by the earthquake.
See also Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicaid My Administration has been relentlessly committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs to preserve and protect them for those who rely most on them. The Medicaid program was designed to be a program to compassionately provide taxpayer dollars to healthcare providers who offer care to the most vulnerable Americans. To keep payments reasonable, billable costs for such care were historically capped at the same level that healthcare providers could receive from Medicare. The State and Federal Governments jointly shared this cost burden to ensure those of lesser means did not go untreated. Under the Biden Administration, States and healthcare providers were permitted to game the system. For example, States "taxed" healthcare providers, but sent the same money back to them in the form of a "Medicaid payment," which automatically unlocked for healthcare providers an additional "burden-sharing" payment from the Federal Government. Through this gimmick, the State could avoid contributing money toward Medicaid services, meaning the State no longer had a reason to be prudent in the amount of reimbursement provided. Instead of paying Medicare rates, many States that utilize these arrangements now pay the same healthcare providers almost three times the Medicare amount, a practice encouraged by the Biden Administration. These State Directed Payments have rapidly accelerated, quadrupling in magnitude over the last 4 years and reaching $110 billion in 2024 alone. This trajectory threatens the Federal Treasury and Medicaid's long-term stability, and the imbalance between Medicaid and Medicare patients threatens to jeopardize access to care for our seniors. I pledged to protect and improve these important Government healthcare programs for those that rely on them. Seniors on Medicare and Medicaid recipients both deserve access to quality care in a system free from the fraud, waste, and abuse, that enriches the unscrupulous and jeopardizes the programs themselves. We will take action to continue to love and cherish the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure they are preserved for those who need them most. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP
Moving forward, it is crucial for regions prone to earthquakes to implement strict building codes and retrofit older structures with quake-resistant technology to minimize the impact of future seismic events. The aftermath of the earthquake in Myanmar is expected to exacerbate existing humanitarian crises, with recovery efforts hindered by political instability and ongoing conflicts in the region. Aftershocks are likely to continue shaking the area, further complicating the recovery process.
In conclusion, the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand was a tragic reminder of the devastating power of natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of such events. The rebuilding and recovery process will be challenging, but with proper planning and support, the affected communities can begin to heal and rebuild.
