Massive 7.7-Magnitude Quake Ravages Central Myanmar, Triggers Collateral Devastation in Bangkok; Rescue Efforts Ongoing Amid Widespread Destruction and Plea for Global Aid
Naypyidaw [Myanmar], March 31: Myanmar is reeling from its deadliest natural disaster in over a century after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country on Friday, killing at least 1,700 people and injuring over 3,400, according to the nation’s military government. Nearly 300 people are still missing as search-and-rescue operations continue across the worst-hit regions.
The earthquake, whose epicenter was located in the Sagaing region near Mandalay, was felt across borders in Thailand and southern China, shaking buildings and disrupting lives far beyond Myanmar. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the final death toll could exceed 10,000 based on early modeling.
In Bangkok, at least 18 people lost their lives when a high-rise building under construction collapsed. Over 80 individuals remain missing, with families anxiously waiting for updates at the debris-strewn site.
Sagaing, home to over 1.5 million people, has seen extensive devastation with bridges, homes, temples, and critical infrastructure reduced to rubble. The destruction of a key bridge over the Irrawaddy River has severely hampered access to remote towns, complicating rescue and relief efforts.
To make matters worse, the region has been already grappling with ongoing civil conflict since the 2021 military coup, which has left Myanmar’s healthcare, communication systems, and logistical networks in a precarious state.
“The scale of devastation hasn’t been seen in over a century in Asia,” said a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “This is a humanitarian emergency layered on top of an already existing crisis.”
Marie Manrique, Myanmar Program Coordinator for IFRC, told CNN that the coming days are critical, with aftershocks—some as strong as magnitude 6.7—continuing to shake the region. She warned that the death toll is expected to rise as survivors are still trapped under collapsed buildings.
In a rare move, the military junta has issued an international plea for assistance. Foreign rescue teams and medical supplies have begun arriving, including from India, China, and the United Nations. Makeshift medical camps have been set up in Mandalay and Sagaing to tend to the injured.
The global community has responded with urgency, recognizing the dire need for coordinated aid. However, experts warn that the true scale of the disaster — and the response needed — will only become clear in the days ahead.