On March 31, 2025, Myanmar was struck by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, causing widespread destruction and leaving millions of people devastated. The earthquake’s epicenter was located in central Myanmar, and its effects were felt across the nation, particularly in urban areas like Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Bagan. As rescue operations began, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) used advanced satellite imagery to gain a clear and accurate picture of the damage. ISRO’s Cartosat and Resourcesat satellites played a pivotal role in capturing high-resolution images of the affected regions, offering valuable data to emergency responders and humanitarian organizations.
In This Article:
Understanding the Destruction Through Satellite Imagery
The earthquake unleashed a catastrophic wave of destruction across Myanmar, affecting key infrastructure, residential areas, and historical sites. The use of ISRO’s satellite imagery provided insights into the devastation, highlighting the scale of damage in real-time. These high-resolution images revealed collapsed buildings, damaged roads, bridges, and landslides that obstructed rescue operations.
In urban hubs like Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, and Mandalay, the second-largest city, ISRO’s satellite data showed massive destruction. Residential buildings, many of which were not designed to withstand such strong tremors, crumbled in the quake’s aftermath. The iconic Bagan, home to centuries-old temples and a UNESCO heritage site, also suffered significant damage. ISRO’s satellite imagery clearly demonstrated the destruction of these invaluable historical structures.
Widespread Infrastructure Damage
The earthquake also caused severe damage to Myanmar’s infrastructure, making rescue and recovery efforts more challenging. Key transportation routes, including highways, roads, and bridges, were severely affected. Several vital bridges collapsed, while many roads were rendered impassable due to cracks, landslides, and debris.
The impact on Myanmar’s transportation network was particularly devastating for remote regions, where roads were already limited and poorly developed. With many roads blocked and bridges down, reaching these regions by ground became nearly impossible. ISRO’s satellite data was crucial in identifying these affected areas, helping emergency teams prioritize their efforts and deliver aid where it was needed most.
How ISRO’s Satellite Imagery Assisted Rescue Efforts
ISRO’s satellite imagery has proven invaluable in planning and executing rescue missions. By providing real-time updates on the destruction, these images helped local and international humanitarian agencies understand the extent of the damage. With the satellite data, teams were able to pinpoint the most affected areas, including hard-to-reach rural regions that were cut off from traditional aid routes.
One of the most important aspects of the satellite imagery was its ability to identify damaged infrastructure, especially roads and bridges, that could potentially hinder the delivery of emergency supplies. This allowed humanitarian organizations to take a more strategic approach, using aerial drops of food, water, and medical supplies to remote areas that were inaccessible by land.
In addition to aiding in the delivery of supplies, the satellite data was also crucial in assessing the safety of evacuation routes and temporary shelters. The imagery revealed areas where buildings were still standing but deemed unsafe due to structural damage, allowing for better planning of evacuation procedures.
The Role of ISRO’s High-Resolution Satellites
ISRO’s Cartosat-2 and Resourcesat-2 satellites are known for their ability to capture high-resolution images, making them ideal tools for assessing natural disasters. Cartosat-2, for example, can capture images with a spatial resolution of up to 0.5 meters, allowing for highly detailed views of affected regions. This level of detail is critical when assessing infrastructure damage, identifying damaged roads, and locating people trapped under debris.
Moreover, ISRO’s satellites were able to capture data not just on the surface, but also on the occurrence of landslides, soil liquefaction, and other seismic impacts that made rescue operations more complicated. The information provided by these satellites has been crucial for determining the best routes for rescue teams and for managing disaster relief logistics.
The Bigger Picture: How Satellite Imagery Can Improve Future Disaster Response
The Myanmar earthquake highlights the importance of satellite imagery in disaster management. As natural disasters like earthquakes become more frequent and devastating, the ability to quickly assess damage and plan effective relief operations becomes more critical. ISRO’s satellite imagery has not only helped in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake but also provided data that will help build more resilient infrastructures for the future.
In addition to disaster response, satellite imagery is becoming increasingly important in monitoring the impact of climate change. With rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other environmental challenges, satellite data plays a vital role in understanding how these changes affect vulnerable regions. By leveraging the power of satellite technology, countries around the world can better prepare for future natural disasters and mitigate their effects.
The earthquake in Myanmar serves as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of nations to natural disasters. However, it also demonstrates how technology, particularly satellite imagery, can help in disaster response and recovery efforts. Thanks to ISRO’s cutting-edge satellite data, aid agencies were able to pinpoint the worst-hit areas and deliver much-needed support to those in need. As we continue to face the challenges posed by natural disasters, satellite technology will play a critical role in minimizing the human and economic costs of these events.
By – Jyothi
