Abstract: On March 28th, 2025, a catastrophic earthquake measuring Ms 7.9 struck central Myanmar, resulting in extensive damage to buildings, significant casualties and tremendous economic loss. During a two-week on-site investigation, widespread liquefaction phenomena and the consequent damage to structures and infrastructures were investigated across 16 villages (or districts) within the earthquake affected regions. This examination encompassed hundreds of residential houses, two major bridges, several roads, and underground storage tanks, among others. Reports also detailed the consequences of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading, which led to the demolition of houses and casualties. The field survey of liquefaction revealed that the liquefaction phenomena and the associated damage were extensively distributed along the surface rupture, accompanied by substantial sand ejection and severe impacts on structures. Ground fissures resulting from liquefaction constituted a major cause of structural destruction in buildings. The loss of ground bearing capacity remained another impact of liquefaction on structural damage, resulting in subsidence and tilting of buildings. The cases of liquefaction in the Myanmar earthquake reported herein provided experience and lessons for anti-seismic design aimed at mitigating soil liquefaction risks in the Southeast Asia. Through the analysis of the phenomenon and characteristics of soil liquefaction, the methods and techniques for liquefaction hazard mitigation in China can be further refined and improved.

Key words: 2025 Myanmar earthquake, liquefaction, on-site survey, structural damage, lessons