ISRO releases satellite pictures of scale of devastation caused by Myanmar earthquake

As the rescue operations remain underway following the devastation caused by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, grim visuals of its aftermath have shaken the world to its core. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now released satellite pictures of the widespread damage due to the earthquake that rattled Myanmar and many other neighbouring countries on March 28, 2025.The tragedy claimed over 2,000 lives in Myanmar, according to multiple reports.

In post-disaster imagery picked by ISRO’s Cartosat-3, the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing could be seen with traces of significant damage to infrastructure. It is worth mentioning that the earthquake led to major destruction in Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, killing more than 1,700 civilians.

The ISRO pictures, captured from an altitude of 500 kilometres above the Earth, show multiple houses on Aung Yadanar Street collapsed after the tremors.
It also shows the damaged section of the Ava Bridge, connecting Ava and Sagaing. Other visuals include the Sky Villa and major monasteries sustaining partial or full impact, damages to Mandalay University, and a major ground rupture and liquefaction at the Irrawaddy River Floodplain area.

ISRO’s Cartosat-3 images show damage caused by the Earthquake in Myanmar on 28 Mar 2025. pic.twitter.com/SEWP4THUNK

— Anshuman (TitaniumSV5) (@TitaniumSV5) March 31, 2025

“The Sagaing fault is a significant active strike-slip fault that accommodates lateral motion between the blocks of the Indian and Eurasian plates. The present earthquake was likely associated with the release of accumulated stress along the Sagaing fault or its accessory faults in the region,” ISRO added.

As of now, the death toll has crossed 2,000 after the massive tremors on Friday, with its epicentre near Mandalay. While power outages, fuel shortages, and failing communications have been hindering relief efforts, the situation could also exacerbate hunger and disease outbreaks in the country, the United Nations warned. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has even estimated that the final death toll could exceed 10,000.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Myanmar earthquake a top-level ‘emergency’ on Sunday, further warning about a large number of casualties and trauma injuries.