CARTOSAT-3 Captures Extensive Damage Across Mandalay and Sagaing
Bengaluru, April 1 – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released high-resolution satellite imagery revealing the widespread destruction caused by the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.Captured by ISRO's advanced earth imaging satellite, CARTOSAT-3, the post-disaster visuals from March 29 focus on the worst-hit regions of Mandalay and Sagaing. To assess the full extent of the damage, ISRO compared these images with pre-earthquake data from March 18, enabling detailed change detection and damage analysis.
Major Landmarks Suffer Extensive Damage
According to ISRO, Mandalay—Myanmar's second-largest city—experienced significant infrastructural collapse. Key landmarks such as:- Sky Villa
- Phayani Pagoda
- Mahamuni Pagoda
- Ananda Pagoda
- University of Mandalay
In Sagaing, damage was notably observed in:
- Ma Shi Khana Pagoda
- Several monasteries and residential buildings
Ava Bridge Collapses, Ground Ruptures Reported
One of the most striking observations from the satellite imagery is the total collapse of the historic Ava (InnWa) Bridge, which spanned the Irrawaddy River near Inn Wa City. The earthquake also caused cracks and ground ruptures in the river's flood plains, along with signs of soil liquefaction, highlighting the intensity of seismic activity.Earthquake Details and Regional Impact
ISRO confirmed that the epicenter was located at 22.013° N, 95.922° E, near the Sagaing-Mandalay border, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The main quake was followed by a strong aftershock of magnitude 6.4.Beyond Mandalay and Sagaing, the quake's tremors were felt across:
- Naypyidaw (Myanmar’s capital)
- Chiang Mai and northern Thailand
ISRO's deployment of CARTOSAT-3 for this rapid assessment underscores the growing role of satellite technology in post-disaster evaluation and emergency response planning.
