With over 2,300 injured and massive infrastructure collapse, the 7.7-magnitude quake leaves Myanmar reeling as India, US, and EU rush in with emergency aid.
March 29, 2025: A devastating earthquake has rocked Myanmar and parts of Thailand, killing over 1,000 people and injuring at least 2,376. Entire buildings were reduced to rubble, and major infrastructure collapsed as emergency services struggled to cope.
Here are 10 key developments in the unfolding crisis:
Also Read: India Sends 15 Tonnes of Relief to Earthquake-Hit Myanmar After Deadly 7.7 Quake
- A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, at 12:50 pm (local time) on Friday. It was followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock and several smaller tremors, amplifying the destruction.
- Tremors were widely felt across the region—from eastern India and Bangladesh to parts of China, Laos, and Cambodia—causing panic and evacuations in several cities.
- Myanmar’s military regime confirmed that the death toll in the country has crossed 1,000, with officials warning that the number could rise further due to limited rescue infrastructure and thousands still trapped under debris.
- In Thailand, the quake led to at least 10 confirmed deaths, primarily due to the collapse of a 30-storey building under construction near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market. Over 100 workers are feared trapped.
- In Mandalay, one of Myanmar’s largest cities, apartment blocks, schools, and hospitals collapsed. The historic Ava Bridge, a century-old railway bridge over the Irrawaddy River, also fell into the waters below.
- With civil conflict already weakening its institutions, Myanmar’s junta made a rare international appeal for help. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing urged “any country, any organisation” to send aid.
- India responded swiftly, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating, “India stands ready to offer all possible assistance.” An IAF C-130J aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid—including tents, blankets, medicines, and water purifiers—was dispatched from Hindon Air Force Station.
- Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened an emergency meeting and declared several regions disaster zones. The Indian Embassy in Bangkok confirmed that no Indian casualties have been reported so far.
- The United States and European Union have pledged support. US President Donald Trump said Washington was already in contact with Myanmar and would extend full assistance, calling it “a real bad one.”
- The humanitarian crisis has triggered global concern, with international agencies and rescue teams preparing for deployment. Satellite images show widespread destruction, especially in areas with already fragile infrastructure.
Also Read: Earthquake of Magnitude 4.7 Jolts Afghanistan, a Day After Massive Myanmar Quake
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Myanmar earthquake, Thailand earthquake, earthquake death toll, Asia earthquake, disaster relief, Myanmar aid, Indian Air Force, international response, PM Modi, Donald Trump, humanitarian crisis
