ALOS-2 Observation of the M7.7 Earthquake in Myanmar

On March 28, 2025, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred in central Myanmar. Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, and the capital, Naypyidaw have been severely damaged.

On the same day that the disaster occurred, JAXA received an emergency observation request as part of the activities of the Earthquake SAR Analysis Working Group (Earthquake WG), whose secretariat is the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI), and also received an emergency observation request from the United Nations Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU) of Sentinel Asia.

JAXA accepted these requests and conducted an emergency observation by ALOS-2 on March 30, 2025. After the observation, JAXA provided satellite data to relevant organizations including MIMU.

Green frame: Area observed by ALOS-2 on March 30, 2025
Blue pin: Mandalay where severely damaged by earthquake

Through Sentinel Asia, ALOS-2 data is shared on the Sentinel Asia website to help with disaster mitigation and prevention.

The Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore analyzed the ALOS-2 data and detected the crustal deformation through InSAR analysis. The products by EOS were provided to Sentinel Asia.

(Figure 1) Results of InSAR analysis by EOS using ALOS-2 observation data on March 30, 2025

GSI also published the following information on its website.

【Updated on Apr 11, 2025】
JAXA has analyzed the data from both ALOS-2 data and ALOS-4 data, observed on Mar 29, 2025. For more details, please visit the following website.
https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/jp/library/disaster/dis_myanmar_earthquake_20250409_j.htm

The ALOS-2 satellite data was carried out through domestic and international cooperations to support disaster relief efforts by optimizing space technology.

JAXA will continue to provide information support during disasters through the provision of satellite data and information.

<Emergency Observation by ALOS-2 (Japan Standard Time)>
Requester: GSI, MIMU
Activation Date: March 28, 2025
Observation Mode: ScanSAR
Observation Date: March 30, 2025 (ScanSAR)

<Emergency Observation by ALOS-4 (Japan Standard Time)>
Observation Mode: Stripmap
Observation Date: March 29, 2025 (Stripmap)