Wed Apr 02 06:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Devastating Earthquake in Myanmar Kills Over 1,700; Bangkok Building Collapse Adds to Toll

**YANGON, MYANMAR/BANGKOK, THAILAND –** A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, has claimed the lives of over 1,700 people and left hundreds more missing. The quake, and subsequent aftershocks, caused widespread destruction in and around Mandalay, damaging countless bridges, buildings, and roads. Over 3,400 injuries have been reported.

The earthquake’s impact extended far beyond Myanmar’s borders. In Bangkok, Thailand, over 1,300 kilometers away, a high-rise building collapsed, resulting in 18 confirmed fatalities, 33 injuries, and over 75 missing persons.

While the earthquake caused significant devastation, preliminary reports indicate that no members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the affected areas perished. However, the religious group reported significant property damage, including 32 homes with major damage, 139 homes with minor damage, and 11 Kingdom Halls affected (5 major, 6 minor). Disaster relief committees have been mobilized in Myanmar to coordinate aid efforts for both members and the wider community.

Circuit overseers and local elders are providing spiritual and practical assistance to those impacted by the earthquake. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania expressed sorrow over the loss of life and destruction, offering hope based on the biblical promise of a future without suffering.

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