Deadly earthquake hits Myanmar, thousands affected amid war

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A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake has claimed over 1,000 lives in Myanmar, with authorities reporting 2,376 injuries and 30 individuals still unaccounted for. The military government’s statement indicates these numbers could increase as more detailed information becomes available.

The disaster has struck amid Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, which has already created a severe humanitarian crisis. The conflict has made rescue operations particularly challenging, with fears mounting about a potentially higher death toll.

The earthquake, which occurred near Mandalay on Friday afternoon, was followed by powerful aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4 magnitude. The impact caused widespread destruction, including building collapses, road damage, bridge failures, and a dam burst.

Naypyidaw, the capital city, experienced significant infrastructure damage, with widespread disruptions to essential services. Government-restricted areas, particularly those containing civil servant housing units, sustained considerable damage.

Deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Myanmar and Thailand. pic.twitter.com/RfKGgFSBrU

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 28, 2025

The earthquake’s impact extended into Thailand, particularly affecting the Bangkok metropolitan area. Local authorities confirmed six fatalities, 26 injuries, and 47 missing persons, with most casualties occurring at a construction site near Chatuchak market.

“I was praying that that they had survived but when I got here and saw the ruin — where could they be? In which corner? Are they still alive? I am still praying that all six are alive,” said 45-year-old Naruemol Thonglek, who anxiously awaits news about her partner and five friends.

The disaster’s geological context is significant, as Myanmar sits on the Sagaing Fault. Brian Baptie, a British Geological Survey seismologist, explained that approximately 200 kilometers of the fault ruptured, causing intense ground movement in densely populated areas with vulnerable building structures.

“When you have a large earthquake in an area where there are over a million people, many of them living in vulnerable buildings, the consequences can often be disastrous,” he stated.

🇲🇲 As of 11:30 today, the earthquake in Myanmar has claimed 694 lives, with the railway severely damaged and train services between Mandalay and Yangon suspended…The disaster is transforming Myanmar, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. #Myanmar #earthquake pic.twitter.com/C2nwS8PXkV

— Bridging News (@BridgingNews_) March 29, 2025

The situation is further complicated by ongoing military operations. Dave Eubank of the Free Burma Rangers reported continued airstrikes in conflict zones even after the earthquake. “People are in the jungle and I was out in the jungle when the earthquake hit — it was powerful, but the trees just moved, that was it for us, so we haven’t had a direct impact other than that the Burma army keeps attacking, even after the quake,” he said.

The earthquake has severely impacted infrastructure, including the collapse of Naypyidaw International Airport’s control tower. International aid efforts are underway, with China and Russia leading initial response teams. Various countries have pledged support, including monetary aid from South Korea and the UN.

“Although a full picture of the damage is still emerging, most of us have never seen such destruction,” said Haider Yaqub, Myanmar’s Plan International country director, speaking from Yangon.

The humanitarian crisis is particularly severe given that over 3 million people were already displaced by civil conflict, with nearly 20 million in need of assistance according to UN figures. The earthquake has added another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation in a country grappling with political instability and widespread conflict.