The quake's worst impacts appeared to be in Myanmar where the 7.7-magnitude tremor hit northwest of the city of Sagaing and was followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock.
The country's military chief General Min Aung Hlaing put the quake toll at 144 dead and 732 injured.
The quake's devastation prompted a rare request for foreign aid from Myanmar's isolated military junta, which has lost swathes of territory to armed groups.
In Thailand's capital, Bangkok, three people were confirmed dead after the collapse of a 30-storey tower. Rescuers were still seaching for survivors amid the rubble with 117 people reported still missing.
Emergency Services race to collapsed tower site in Bangkok
Emergency services are seen amid traffic near a construction site where a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake.
Emergency services are seen amid traffic near a construction site where a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake. © Lillian Suwanzumpha, AFP
Sifting through debris in Mandalay
People inspect the debris of a collapsed building in Mandalay on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake.
People inspect the debris of a collapsed building in Mandalay on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake. © STR / AFP
Pagaodas housing Buddhist relics in Myanmar
Damaged pagodas are seen after earthquake Friday, March 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
Damaged pagodas are seen after earthquake Friday, March 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Aung Shine Oo, AP
Urgent need for medical supplies
Medical workers and people walk past boxes of medical material placed in the compound of a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025.
Medical workers and people walk past boxes of medical material placed in the compound of a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025. © Sai Aung Main, AFP
Roads damaged in Myanmar
A motorcyclist rides past a damaged road in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar.
A motorcyclist rides past a damaged road in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar. © Sai Aung Main, AFP
Rescue teams evacuate the injured
Rescue teams evacuate an injured man in a stretcher at a construction site where a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025
Rescue teams evacuate an injured man in a stretcher at a construction site where a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025 © Chanakarn Laosarakham, AFP
Collapse of 30-storey Bangkok tower captured on video
This frame grab from UGC video footage taken and posted by Khon Su Cheevit Adeet Mai Suay Rok Na on Facebook on March 28, 2025 shows workers running away from a building in Bangkok.
This frame grab from UGC video footage taken and posted by Khon Su Cheevit Adeet Mai Suay Rok Na on Facebook on March 28, 2025 shows workers running away from a building in Bangkok. AFP Handout