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| Photo - Al Jazeera |
MYANMAR Earthquake disaster update
March 28, 2025
On the morning of Friday, March 28, 2025, at 06:20 UT (12:50 PM local time in Myanmar), a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck central Myanmar. The epicenter was located approximately 16 kms north-west of Sagaing, at a depth of 10 kms. This seismic event led to wide-spread destruction and prompted Myanmar to declare a state of emergency.
According to various media reports, hundreds are feared dead, although it is difficult to obtain accurate information. A rescuer in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, told an international media group that the damage is "enormous," and the number of casualties is "at least in the hundreds." Yangon, Myanmar's largest city and commercial hub—located about 600 km (289 miles) from the epicenter near Mandalay — also experienced tremors.
In the aftermath, there is limited information regarding disruptions to radio broadcasting services within Myanmar. Monitoring of medium wave (MW) frequencies around 12.30 past 13.30 UTC indicates that Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) on 576 kHz, the main service, and the 729 kHz , which broadcasts services to minority ethnic communities, remain audible. However, MRTV's 594kHz from Nay Pyi Taw , typically affected by interference from a strong Thai station, and 711 kHz (Yangon Yengu) are currently inaudible.
{later} re: Myanmar - A few hours after the earthquake struck Myanmar, at 10:37 UT, re: Myanmar Revised draft. Following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, MRTV experienced disruptions in its broadcasting services. As of 10:37 UTC, MRTV resumed transmissions on Yangoon 9730 kHz after a period of silence. However, broadcasts on {Yangoon} 5985 kHz and {Nay Pyi Taw} 5915 kHz remained inactive as of 13:00 UT. These interruptions are likely due to infrastructural damage caused by the earthquake, which has led to widespread destruction and communication challenges across the affected regions. March 28.
{later} Myanmar 29 March 2025.
MRTV has resumed transmission on {Nay Pyi Taw} 5915 kHz and is back on the air as of 02:00 UTC this morning. Meanwhile, the broadcast on {Yangoon} 9730 kHz remains active and was clearly heard at 02:30 UTC. (Sarath Weerakoon, Mt. Lavinia Beach-CLN 4S5SL, via wwdxc BC-
March 28 - 29)
MYANMAR 7345 kHz Thazin Radio via Pyin Oo Lwin bcast center, March 26; good signal today with Burmese popular melodies selection pgm featuring YL singers with organ, etc. at 1200+ UT noted coming clearly through CNR-7 which was in OM Cantonese tlks at this time. Fading in better and better, soon dominating China on fqy with program of mellow folk-pop Burmese tunes and spritely organ pieces. 1219 UT spritely organ tune, YL anmts probably an ad, and into romantic pop ballad.
(Ralph Perry, Wheaton-IL-USA, NASWA Electronic Flashsheet #1197 March 30)
(WWDXC Top News 1613/08 Apr 2025)
