Myanmar earthquake news

News #259. Sri Racha trip report, Siem Reap’s E-Bus project, Malaysia's ECRL almost 80% complete, Ho Chi Minh City plans for 7 metro lines by 2035

James Clark
April 02, 2025

The Future Southeast Asia Newsletter features transport and urban development news in Southeast Asia, edited by James Clark.

This week’s news is dominated by the Myanmar earthquake and the subsequent building collapse in Bangkok. I have compiled news items about the quake that are related to construction and transport.

This week’s feature article for premium subscribers is my trip report to Sri Racha (the Little Osaka of Thailand).

Future Southeast Asia articles

Latest article

• Sri Racha Trip Report (Premium)

The Little Osaka of Thailand, bad design of Sukhumvit Road (like Bangkok), seaview apartments (shame about the beach), and the future high-speed railway to 3 airports.

Sri Racha, Thailand

[Existing Premium Subscribers: Log in to your account to read online.]

Recent articles

• Hanoi's plan for public space around Hoan Kiem Lake

An ode to the Shark Jaw building in Hanoi, turning tram depots into opera houses, more lakeside demolition for metro construction, and thoughts on whether Hanoi should go full Haussmann.

• Bangkok construction update (2025 edition) (Premium)

Another mall at Siam, the future “Shinjuku of Bangkok”, more classic hotels that have been lost, the South Sukhumvit Innovation District, and a mega project in Chinatown.

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News

• Opinion | Why the US could lose more ground in Southeast Asia ($) [SCMP]

“While the US remains Asean’s biggest investor, its investment in core infrastructure is limited. Meanwhile, China makes its presence felt.”

"Laos has taken a significant step toward sustainable infrastructure development with the recent launch of the Infrastructure Asset Management Enabling Environment (IAM EE) Roadmap."

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• ECRL almost 80pct complete, shifts to large-scale above-ground construction [BTTV] [New Straits Times]

• RM1.9bil to buy 1,600 buses to replace existing Prasarana fleet, says Amir Hamzah [The Star]

• Bridges that transformed Bintulu: From a quiet river town to an industrial powerhouse [Borneo's Voices & Stories]

"How Bintulu’s bridges shaped its growth—from timber boom to LNG hub, and the cost of rapid development."

🇲🇲 Myanmar

Quake news

• Powerful earthquake strikes Myanmar, hitting Sagaing and Mandalay hardest [Myanmar NOW]

"Historic Mandalay Palace damaged, Sagaing bridge destroyed; fears grow for residents trapped in collapsed buildings."

• Deliver earthquake aid to the Myanmar people, not the war criminals [The Irrawaddy]

• List of populated places affected by the 2025 Myanmar earthquake [Wikipedia]

• Bridge collapses into river in Mandalay, Myanmar [BBC]

"Video shows damage to the Ava Bridge, near Mandalay, after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked central Myanmar."

• Videos show chaos after Naypyitaw airport control tower collapses in earthquake [Times of India]

Other news

• Myanmar junta banks on solar miracle as Yangon sinks back into darkness [The Irrawaddy]

🇵🇭 Philippines

• PNR confirms progress on South Long Haul project [Philippine Information Agency]

"Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Engr. Deovanni S. Miranda assured that the South Long Haul Project remains on track, with right-of-way and site acquisitions already underway."

• Government to start P700 million rehabilitation of LRT-1 [The Philippine Star]

• DOTr, San Jose Del Monte LGU agree on new location for MRT-7 station [Philippine Information Agency]

• BCDA, MIAA sign lease, sale deal for Naia terminal 3 property [Inquirer]

• Commentary: The Philippines walks a tightrope with Chinese aid [CNA]

"Manila wants to assert its sovereignty, but it also needs roads, bridges and power plants. Pragmatism, not ideology, is driving development finance decisions, say the Lowy Institute’s Alexandre Dayant and Grace Stanhope."

• Protecting lives and property: The urgent need for stricter building standards in the Philippines [BusinessMirror]

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Singapore Rail Test Centre officially opens, aims to bolster rail reliability [CNA]

• Lost in Transit: The wayfinder who revamped Singapore’s MRT station signs [Rice Media]

• Commentary: More pedestrian-friendly road features will remove the temptation to jaywalk [CNA]

🇹🇭 Thailand

Quake news

• Tremors cause Bangkok building collapse, trapping over 80 workers [Khaosod English]

• Video of collapsing building [Khaosod English (Facebook)]

• ‘Substandard steel’ used in collapsed Bangkok tower [Bangkok Post]

• In Bangkok, looking at high-rises with a new sense of dread (archive) [The New York Times]

"Buildings are rising all over the city, emblems of economic growth. But an earthquake that sent one crashing to the ground has stirred fears about building safety."

• Bridge collapses at Bangkok luxury condo after Myanmar earthquake [The Nation]

• Mahanakhon Tower swaying during earthquake [YouTube]

• Condos built since 2007 are earthquake safe - Thaicondo [Thai PBS World]

• Bangkok governor urges owners of 11,000 buildings to check safety [The Nation]

• Quality checks ordered on Thai-Chinese high-speed train project [Thai PBS World]

• Update on the Chiang Rai Railway project (via Southeast Asia Railways Facebook Group)

“Railway station, Pa Daet District, Chiang Rai Province, which is under construction, 20 concrete beams, each weighing 10 tons, fell on 6 cars from the earthquake.”

Other news

• Thailand’s Land Bridge: navigating geopolitical and investor concerns [Fulcrum]

"Thailand’s land bridge project faces challenges in managing geopolitical rivalries and competing with advanced ports in neighbouring countries. Additionally, logistical issues such as transit times and reloading processes could diminish potential time savings. Thailand could instead pursue more cost-effective options to improve existing port and overland infrastructure and boost competitiveness."

• As Thailand chokes on smog, these citizens wrote the law to fix it [HaRDstories]

• Bangkok authorities confront canal rubbish crisis with CCTV and legal action [The Nation]

• Bangkok and London strengthen ties for urban growth [Bangkok Post]

"Bangkok Metropolitan Council and London Assembly explore renewed cooperation and knowledge exchange for sustainable city development."

• Bangkok’s robot building: A landmark changed [The Nation]