The smell of death permeated the streets of Mandalay, Myanmar, on Sunday, March 30, 2025, after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the region two days earlier. The quake, which hit at midday on Friday, March 28, 2025, was centered near Mandalay and has resulted in over 1,700 deaths and thousands more injured. Rescue efforts have been hampered by damaged infrastructure and ongoing civil unrest in the country.
As of Sunday, reports indicated that at least 1,700 people were confirmed dead, with around 3,400 injured. The Myanmar military government has acknowledged the dire situation, with nearly 300 individuals still reported missing. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated that the final death toll could surpass 10,000 based on early modeling, reflecting the severity of the disaster.
The earthquake was the most powerful to hit Myanmar in over a century, causing widespread destruction across the country. Buildings, bridges, and temples have collapsed, with significant damage reported in Mandalay, home to over 1.5 million residents. The tremors were felt as far away as Bangkok, where 18 fatalities have been confirmed, including 11 deaths from a collapsed high-rise building under construction.
In Mandalay, local residents have taken it upon themselves to conduct search and rescue operations, moving rubble by hand in sweltering heat, with temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit). Many individuals spent the night of March 30 sleeping on the streets, either due to the loss of their homes or the fear of aftershocks causing further collapses. A 5.1 magnitude aftershock struck on Sunday, prompting panic among those still searching for survivors.
According to Cara Bragg, the Yangon-based manager of Catholic Relief Services, local volunteers have been crucial in the rescue efforts. “It’s mainly been local volunteers, local people who are just trying to find their loved ones,” Bragg stated. She also noted that hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of injured individuals, facing shortages of medical supplies and food.
International aid has begun to arrive in Myanmar, with two Indian C-17 military transport aircraft landing in Naypitaw on March 29, carrying a field hospital unit and approximately 120 personnel to establish a 60-bed emergency treatment center in Mandalay. Additionally, a convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies was expected to reach Mandalay, after a grueling 650-kilometer (400-mile) journey that took 14 hours.
China has pledged $14 million in emergency aid and sent rescue teams equipped with medical kits and earthquake detectors to assist in the relief efforts. Russia and Malaysia have also dispatched teams to help with search and rescue operations, while Thailand has sent 55 soldiers to support the efforts. The UK announced a $13 million aid package to assist local partners already working in Myanmar.
The earthquake has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in civil conflict since the military coup in 2021. The ongoing fighting has displaced over 3 million people and left nearly 20 million in need of assistance, according to the United Nations. Military attacks have continued despite the earthquake, complicating rescue operations and limiting access to affected areas.
In a rare move, the Myanmar military junta has issued an appeal for international aid, acknowledging the severe shortage of medical supplies and the need for humanitarian assistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the earthquake as a top-level emergency, urgently seeking $8 million to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks in the coming weeks.
As rescue teams continue to search for survivors, the situation remains critical. The level of devastation has been described as unprecedented, with officials from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stating that the impact of the earthquake “hasn’t been seen in over a century in Asia.”
Families of the missing have gathered at disaster sites, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. Many are holding onto hope, despite the grim circumstances. “We are hoping for a miracle,” one distraught relative expressed.
As the international community rallies to provide assistance, the challenges of reaching those in need continue to mount. The combination of damaged infrastructure, ongoing civil unrest, and the sheer scale of the disaster means that the full extent of the tragedy may take weeks to fully understand. The coming days will be crucial as rescue efforts intensify and aid begins to flow into the affected regions.
