When the Ground Moves: A Personal Earthquake Experience

The recent earthquake was a jolt—not just for those who felt it physically, but for all of us watching the aftermath unfold from a distance. I couldn’t stop thinking about friends in Yangon and Bangkok. I was so relieved to hear from them, thanks to WhatsApp and Facebook. These quiet notifications brought comfort—just knowing they were safe. But for many others, there were no such messages. Families torn apart. Lives lost. It’s heartbreaking.

A crumbling structure reveals the harsh impact of environmental forces, leaving behind a haunting reminder of nature's power over man-made endeavors.

I’ve had a few brushes with tremors, though nothing like what others have gone through this time.

The first time was in Taipei, in 1990 or 1991. I’d just landed and honestly thought I had a touch of air sickness. The floor shifted ever so slightly—but not enough to alarm me. I chalked it up to jet lag. It didn’t even cross my mind that it might have been a tremor.

The second earthquake experience was in Yangon. I was alone, watching The Exorcist of all things. The room started moving and for a second, I thought it was the film—it felt surreal, like some kind of strange immersive experience. But it wasn’t. When the Telegram messages from neighbours started coming through, reality set in. It was an earthquake.

And then came the thoughts I didn’t want to admit. Why didn’t I listen to Vanessa, our Singapore Ambassador in Myanmar, when she told us to hoard food and be ready for emergencies? At the time, it all sounded a bit much. But in that moment, everything she said made sense. Every bit of her advice was spot on.

It’s strange how things feel distant until they’re not. We always think we’ll have time to prepare. We assume the worst won’t happen to us.

This week was a reminder that things can change in seconds. That the ground beneath us isn’t always steady. That sometimes, we’re lucky just to be able to message someone and say, “I’m okay.”

My thoughts are with everyone who didn’t get that message and is now facing unimaginable loss. I hope they’re surrounded by support and care, somehow.