A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, killing at least 1,644 people, according to the military government via BBC Burmese.
The deadliest natural disaster in years, it has crippled infrastructure amid an ongoing civil war. On Saturday, Myanmar’s junta permitted hundreds of foreign rescue workers to enter, a rare move for the isolated nation.
One of the strongest in Myanmar’s history, the quake damaged airports, bridges, and highways. In Mandalay, the second-largest city near the epicentre, survivors dug through rubble with bare hands, lacking equipment and government aid. The U.S. Geological Service warns the death toll could surpass 10,000, with economic losses potentially exceeding Myanmar’s yearly output.
Myanmar’s ruling military government now says over 1,600 people have been killed by a devastating earthquake as more bodies are being pulled from rubble.
The epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude quake was near Mandalay — Myanmar’s second largest city — and it rocked neighboring… pic.twitter.com/cr0O7d8vdr
— PBS News (@NewsHour) March 29, 2025Junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing visited Mandalay on Saturday, ordering faster rescue efforts. Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government (NUG) reported that 2,900 buildings, 30 roads, and seven bridges were damaged. Naypyitaw and Mandalay airports remain closed, with Naypyitaw’s control tower collapsed. A junta spokesman was unavailable for comment.
China sent a rescue team to Yangon, promising $13.77 million in aid, including tents and medical kits. India delivered supplies via military aircraft and ships, while Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, and ASEAN pledged support. The U.S., despite tensions with the junta, also offered assistance. South Korea committed $2 million through global organizations.
Neighboring Thailand Hit Hard
In Bangkok, 1,000 kilometres from the epicentre, the quake toppled a 33-story skyscraper under construction, killing nine and leaving 47 missing. Rescue teams, using drones and dogs, worked tirelessly on Saturday. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul vowed round-the-clock efforts, saying, “We always have hope.” Up to 5,000 buildings may be damaged across the city, per Thailand’s Council of Engineers.
Read: Myanmar Earthquake: Death Toll Nears 700 as International Aid Arrives
In Myanmar, residents, like one anonymous Mandalay caller, described dire conditions: “There’s no manpower, equipment, or vehicles.” In Bangkok, 39-year-old Chanpen Kaewnoi awaited news of her trapped mother and sister, saying, “I want to see their faces again.” The disaster’s scale has overwhelmed local resources, amplifying the urgent need for international help.
