A catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, leaving behind widespread destruction and a mounting humanitarian crisis. The epicenter was located near Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, home to 1.2 million people. The quake was followed by powerful aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, further compounding the devastation.
Rising Casualties and Destruction
The official death toll has soared to over 1,600 as of Saturday evening, with more than 3,400 injured and 139 individuals still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing in Mandalay and surrounding areas, but efforts are hindered by damaged infrastructure, including collapsed bridges and buckled roads. Airports in key cities like Mandalay and Naypyidaw have been rendered unusable due to structural damage, complicating the arrival of international aid teams127.
Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, with apartment buildings, monasteries, mosques, and schools among the structures destroyed. A dam burst has added to the chaos in rural areas7. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a “red alert,” warning that fatalities could surpass 10,000 and economic losses may exceed Myanmar’s GDP34.
Rescue Operations Amid Challenges
Rescue teams from multiple countries have begun arriving in Myanmar despite logistical challenges posed by the ongoing civil conflict. China has sent medical supplies and detection equipment to locate survivors trapped beneath rubble. Russia has dispatched 120 rescuers along with medical personnel and search dogs. South Korea pledged $2 million in humanitarian aid48.
Local volunteers are working tirelessly under difficult conditions with limited equipment. Thaw Zin, a volunteer in Mandalay, described the urgency: “There are still more than a hundred individuals trapped inside [collapsed buildings]. We are doing everything we can with the resources at our disposal”2.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The earthquake has exacerbated an already dire situation in Myanmar, which has been grappling with civil war since a military coup in 2021. Nearly 20 million people were already in need of humanitarian aid before the disaster. The widespread destruction of critical infrastructure—roads, hospitals, and places of worship—has pushed vulnerable communities into even greater need59.
Aid organizations such as Mercy Corps and NRC have called for immediate and unrestricted access to affected areas to deliver essential supplies like shelter, food, water, and medical aid. However, funding remains critically low; only 4.9% of Myanmar’s $1.1 billion humanitarian appeal for 2025 had been met prior to the earthquake59.
Regional Impact: Thailand
The earthquake also caused significant damage in neighboring Thailand. In Bangkok, a high-rise under construction collapsed completely, killing nine people and leaving over 100 missing. Rescue crews have detected signs of life beneath the rubble but face challenges clearing debris quickly enough to save survivors67.
International Response and Outlook
The disaster has prompted rare cooperation from Myanmar’s military junta, which has declared states of emergency across six regions and appealed for international aid—a departure from its usual isolationist stance34. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed willingness to assist Myanmar during recovery efforts6.As rescue operations continue amid mounting challenges, experts warn that the death toll will likely rise further in the coming days. The earthquake stands as one of Myanmar’s deadliest natural disasters since the Maymyo earthquake of 191237.
