Mon Mar 31 14:22:00 UTC 2025: ## Myanmar Declares National Mourning After Devastating Earthquake Kills Over 2,000

**Yangon, Myanmar** – Myanmar has declared a week of national mourning following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. The death toll is expected to rise significantly, with hundreds still missing.

The ruling military junta announced the period of mourning, during which national flags will fly at half-mast. A minute of silence will be observed nationwide on Tuesday at the exact time of the quake. Rescue efforts are winding down in hard-hit areas like Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, where thousands are sleeping in the streets fearing aftershocks and damaged homes.

Mandalay’s main hospital has been evacuated, with patients treated outdoors under makeshift shelters in the sweltering heat. The conditions are hampering rescue and recovery efforts, with the heat accelerating decomposition and complicating the identification of victims.

The earthquake’s impact extends beyond Myanmar’s borders. At least 19 deaths have been confirmed in Bangkok, Thailand, where a 30-story building under construction collapsed. Foreign nationals are also among the casualties, including citizens of China and France.

The disaster has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar. The country is grappling with a four-year civil war following a 2021 military coup, leaving its infrastructure and healthcare systems severely weakened. The World Health Organization has declared the earthquake a top-level emergency and is seeking $8 million in aid, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched a $100 million appeal.

Despite an unusually rare appeal for foreign assistance from the junta, reports suggest the military continues to conduct air strikes against armed opposition groups, even amid the ongoing crisis. This raises concerns about the effective delivery and distribution of much-needed aid. The ongoing conflict has already displaced an estimated 3.5 million people. The combined effects of the earthquake and the ongoing civil war present an immense challenge for the Southeast Asian nation.

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