Myanmar’s devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest in a century, has claimed at least 1,700 lives by Sunday, March 30, 2025.
The military government reports 3,400 injuries and over 300 people missing, with junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing warning the toll could rise. Foreign rescue teams and aid from nations like India, China, and Thailand are rushing to the war-torn country, where overwhelmed hospitals and limited resources hinder local efforts.
Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 1,700
Thailand deaths up to 17
Chinese rescuers also in Myanmar to help aid efforts https://t.co/ZDHWv4rXwQ pic.twitter.com/pE97QGmmN6
— RT (@RT_com) March 30, 2025
The quake struck Friday, shattering critical infrastructure bridges, highways, airports, and railways across the nation of 55 million. This disaster compounds Myanmar’s woes, already reeling from a civil war sparked by the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. Over 3.5 million people remain displaced, and the battered economy and health system struggle to cope.
Read: Myanmar Earthquake: Over 1,600 Dead as Junta Allows Foreign Aid
International support is pouring in. The U.S. pledged $2 million through local humanitarian groups, deploying a USAID emergency team despite funding cuts under the Trump administration. Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia also sent relief teams. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned, “Destruction is vast, and needs are surging hourly. With rising heat and the monsoon nearing, we must act fast to prevent further crises.”
Myanmar quake death toll hits 1,700 as aid scramble intensifies
Teams from India, China, Singapore, Thailand on the ground.
Hospitals in hard-hit parts struggling to cope, says UN agency.#Myanmar #MyanmarEarthquake #MyanmarEarthquake2025 pic.twitter.com/I0QHWDoZZ0
— DD News (@DDNewslive) March 30, 2025
The earthquake’s timing couldn’t be worse. Myanmar’s ongoing conflict has decimated resources, slowing aid delivery. Min Aung Hlaing’s rare call for help, issued three days ago, underscores the crisis’s severity. As rescue operations push forward, communities scramble with scarce tools, racing against time to save lives amid a deepening humanitarian emergency.