A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar and neighboring Thailand has claimed over 1,000 lives, with rescue teams racing against time to find survivors amid widespread destruction.
Massive Earthquake Rocks Myanmar and Thailand
The quake, which hit northwest of Sagaing in the afternoon on March 28, was followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. Buildings crumbled, bridges collapsed, and roads buckled across Myanmar, with Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, among the worst affected areas.
According to the ruling junta, at least 1,002 people have been confirmed dead, while nearly 2,400 others sustained injuries. Additionally, 10 fatalities were reported in Bangkok, where tremors were strong enough to damage structures hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.
Destruction and Chaos in Mandalay
In Mandalay, a centuries-old Buddhist pagoda was reduced to rubble. An eyewitness, a soldier at a checkpoint near the site, described the terrifying experience:
“It started shaking, then it started getting serious. The monastery also collapsed. One monk died. Some people were injured; we pulled out some people and took them to the hospital.”
Fearing aftershocks, many displaced residents refused to sleep indoors.
Junta Appeals for International Aid
In a rare move, Junta Chief Min Aung Hlaing made an urgent plea for international assistance—a stark contrast to previous military governments that rejected foreign aid after natural disasters. Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in the six most affected regions, and hospitals in Naypyidaw were forced to treat patients outdoors due to structural damage.
The first wave of international aid arrived Saturday, with India dispatching emergency relief supplies, including hygiene kits, blankets, and food parcels. China has also sent an 82-person rescue team to assist in search-and-recovery efforts.
Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Leaves Scores Missing
The powerful tremors caused a 30-story skyscraper under construction in Bangkok to collapse instantly, killing at least 10 people and leaving up to 100 workers missing. Authorities deployed thermal imaging drones to detect signs of life beneath the wreckage.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told AFP: “We are doing our best with the resources we have because every life matters.”
In response to over 2,000 reports of structural damage, Bangkok authorities have mobilized more than 100 engineers to conduct safety inspections across the city. Approximately 400 residents were forced to spend the night outdoors due to unsafe housing conditions.
Myanmar Faces a Humanitarian Crisis
Myanmar’s ability to respond to this unprecedented disaster is severely hampered by ongoing civil conflict following the 2021 military coup. Aid agencies warn that millions were already displaced and at risk of hunger before the quake struck, compounding the crisis.
The coming days will be critical as rescue missions continue, and the true scale of the devastation unfolds. With communication lines down and infrastructure severely damaged, the death toll is expected to rise further.
Stay tuned for real-time updates on the Myanmar earthquake and its impact on the region.
