By AIT Public Affairs
28 April 2025 – On March 28, 2025, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay. The tremors rippled across the Sagaing Region and were felt in parts of Thailand, including Bangkok. The quake caused widespread devastation, destroying critical infrastructure, damaging historic sites, and claiming more than 3,500 lives in Myanmar. Structural damage was also reported in various parts of Thailand. In response to the disaster, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) mobilized swiftly, offering technical expertise, student-led digital tools, and community support to aid emergency relief and recovery efforts.
Student-Led Digital Disaster Response
Within six hours of the quake, postgraduate students from AIT’s Structural Engineering Program launched a digital platform to help communities in Myanmar and Thailand assess structural safety. Through Facebook and email, residents submitted images of damaged buildings for rapid evaluation.
Using visual analysis, the students classified the damage as minor, moderate, or major and provided feedback in Burmese and Thai to ensure accessibility and clarity. In just one week, the team assessed over 15,000 images and evaluated more than 2,700 structures—70% from Myanmar and 30% from Thailand. Most submissions involved residential and high-rise buildings, highlighting the community’s concern for personal and public safety.
What started with 30 Structural Engineering students quickly grew to include fellow AIT engineers and volunteers from Rangsit University, turning the initiative into a valuable real-world learning experience for all involved. The initiative was featured by several media in Myanmar.
“This is truly a proud moment for us at AIT,” said Dr. Chaitanya Krishna, Program Chair of the Structural Engineering Program. “Our students responded to a crisis with compassion, quick thinking, and real professionalism. Graduate school is a time to grow and focus on your path, but they chose to go beyond that—using their engineering knowledge to help others meaningfully. It is a powerful reminder of what education can do when driven by empathy and purpose. This initiative shows the kind of heart and leadership we hope to inspire in every student here.”
On-Site Inspections in Thailand
In addition to digital evaluations, AIT experts conducted on-site inspections in Thailand. On April 4, a team visited Wisutthi Kasattree School in Samut Prakan Province following reports of earthquake-related damage.
The engineers examined both structural and non-structural elements—beams, columns, walls, ceilings, and more—to assess potential safety risks. This inspection was carried out in collaboration with the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT), supported by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Thai Volunteer Engineers Foundation, and other engineering volunteers.
The goal was to ensure the long-term safety of over 2,000 students, teachers, and staff through a comprehensive safety assessment and repair plan.
Prof. Pennung Warnitchai Joins National Task Force on Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse
Following the collapse of a 33-story building under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak District during the earthquake, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called for an urgent investigation. A national task force was formed under the Ministry of Interior, bringing together engineering experts from four leading institutions. Professor Pennung Warnitchai from AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology, a renowned expert in earthquake engineering and structural dynamics, is contributing to the development of forensic models to simulate and analyze the cause of the collapse.
Damage Mapping of the Myanmar Earthquake
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, AIT’s Geoinformatics Center (GIC) produced a series of satellite-based post-disaster maps for the most severely affected areas, including the Sagaing and Kyaukse districts in Myanmar. For the impact assessment, GIC utilized pre-disaster imagery from ESRI World Imagery (approx. 30 cm resolution)and post-disaster imagery from Airbus’s PLEIADES-1A satellite (50 cm resolution) to analyze the extent and distribution of the damage.
On March 31, 2025, GIC released two Value Added Products (VAPs), designed to support impact assessment and guide response efforts.
Satellite-Based Damage Assessment by RSGIS Students
Students from AIT’s Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (RSGIS) program conducted a satellite-based damage analysis to map fault activity and assess structural impact. Using Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 MSI imagery, they identified over 2 meters of horizontal displacement along a 500-kilometer rupture of the Sagaing Fault, along with 25 cm of vertical movement using InSAR.
To assess potential damage zones, the team applied multi-temporal radar coherence analysis and cross-referenced findings with crowdsourced photos from social media. This combination of geospatial technology and ground-level evidence provided vital insights to support emergency response and long-term recovery planning. The project highlights how remote sensing, when paired with community input, can guide rapid disaster assessment in seismically active regions.
Community Support and Fundraising
The AIT Myanmar student community launched a fundraising campaign to support affected families in Myanmar and northern Thailand. Efforts include distributing essential supplies such as food, medicine, and temporary shelter, as well as donation booths and awareness activities.
AIT Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, SU, and RecyGlo, initiated a donation campaign for earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand.
AIT’s School of Management (SOM) also hosted a 2-kilometre charity run, Run with a Purpose, on April 8. Open to the entire campus, the event successfully raised funds for earthquake relief. Many participants made additional contributions to enhance the impact.
Open Forum on Earthquake Response
Student Union at AIT hosted an Open Forum on Earthquake Response on April 10, 2025, bringing together experts and partners to discuss disaster response, mitigation strategies, and regional collaboration.
Speakers included representatives from Thammasat University, the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and PhD researchers from AIT. The event concluded with a candlelight ceremony in remembrance of lives lost, and a donation drive to support affected communities.
AIT’s Commitment to Real-World Impact
The response to the Myanmar earthquake reflects AIT’s enduring commitment to applying knowledge for the greater good. “This moment captures the essence of AIT—where academic expertise, student leadership, and a shared sense of responsibility come together to make a difference,” said AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li. “From deploying digital tools and conducting safety assessments to organizing fundraising efforts, our students, faculty, and staff have shown what it means to lead with empathy and purpose. This is the kind of engagement that defines AIT’s role in the region. In moments of profound adversity, our strength lies in our unity and compassion. Let us stand together in support of all those affected—resilient, caring, and committed.”
