A devastating earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, prompting a state of emergency in six regions as officials fear the death toll could rise into the tens of thousands. The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale, was centered near Mandalay, a major city in central Myanmar. This seismic event, described as the most powerful to hit the region in over a century, also caused significant damage in neighboring Thailand, particularly in Bangkok.
As of Friday evening, reports indicated that at least 144 people had died in Myanmar, though estimates from the United States Geological Survey suggest that the actual number could be much higher, potentially reaching thousands or even tens of thousands of victims. The first earthquake struck on the morning of March 28 at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers, followed by a second quake just twelve minutes later, registering a magnitude of 6.4.
In Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, hundreds of injured individuals were rushed to local hospitals, one of which partially collapsed due to the tremors. Eyewitness accounts from the area describe a chaotic scene as medical staff struggled to treat the influx of victims amid the crumbling infrastructure. Reports also emerged from Taungoo, located over 300 kilometers south of Mandalay, where at least nineteen people lost their lives when a mosque and a monastery collapsed.
The disaster did not spare Thailand, where a thirty-story building under construction in Bangkok collapsed, killing at least eight people and trapping dozens more under the rubble. The tremors were felt as far away as Vietnam, highlighting the earthquake's widespread impact.
In response to the disaster, Myanmar's military junta declared a state of emergency in six regions and appealed for international humanitarian assistance. However, the situation is complicated by the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar, which has left approximately 3.3 million people displaced since the military coup in 2021. Paul Roelofsen, country director for Myanmar at the Dutch humanitarian organization ZOA, emphasized the challenges of delivering aid in a country already grappling with a humanitarian crisis.
Roelofsen noted, "The military junta's quick declaration of a state of emergency is telling, especially compared to their response during Cyclone Nargis in 2008, when they failed to do so despite over 100,000 deaths. This time, mere hours after the quake, they have acknowledged the severity of the situation." He further indicated that fighting had recently occurred in the Mandalay region, complicating the response efforts.
International leaders have expressed their condolences and offered support. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen both pledged humanitarian aid on social media. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also stated that he had discussed assistance with officials in Myanmar.
Despite the calls for help, the military's tight control over information and heavy censorship have made it difficult to assess the full scale of the disaster. Communication lines to Mandalay, which has a population of about 1.2 million, remained disrupted days after the quake. As of the afternoon of March 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no information on the whereabouts of Dutch citizens in Myanmar, although travel organizations estimated that several thousand were in Thailand.
As the situation continues to develop, the full extent of the damage and casualties remains unclear. Local geologists have warned that these earthquakes are unprecedented for the region, raising fears of a humanitarian disaster on a scale not seen in decades. The international community watches closely, hoping for a swift and effective response to aid the victims of this tragic event.
