Wed Apr 02 06:31:09 UTC 2025: ## Myanmar Earthquake Kills Over 2,700, Compounding Humanitarian Crisis

**Bangkok, April 2, 2025** – A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, leaving over 2,700 dead and thousands injured. The death toll is expected to rise, as the full extent of the damage in the quake-stricken areas remains unclear. The earthquake, the second most powerful in Myanmar’s recorded history, caused widespread destruction, damaging buildings, roads, and infrastructure, leaving many areas without power or communication.

Rescue efforts are underway, with a 63-year-old woman miraculously pulled from the rubble 91 hours after the initial collapse. However, hopes of finding more survivors are dwindling past the 72-hour mark. The World Health Organization estimates over 10,000 buildings have been collapsed or severely damaged. Mandalay, near the epicentre, and Naypyitaw, the capital, have been particularly hard hit. In Mandalay alone, 259 bodies have been recovered, and 150 people are feared buried in a collapsed monastery.

The earthquake also impacted neighboring Thailand, causing a high-rise building collapse in Bangkok resulting in 22 deaths and 34 injuries.

International aid is arriving, but access remains challenging due to damaged infrastructure and ongoing civil conflict within Myanmar. The U.S. has pledged $2 million in emergency assistance, while other countries have also offered aid. However, a U.S. official expressed concern over limited resources due to recent budget cuts and reorganization of the USAID.

The ongoing civil war in Myanmar further complicates the humanitarian response. Over three million people were already displaced before the earthquake, and the disaster has exacerbated existing needs for shelter, medical care, and sanitation. The risk of disease outbreaks is high, particularly with the approaching monsoon season.

Despite the crisis, some armed opposition groups have declared unilateral ceasefires, while the military government insists on continuing defensive measures against certain ethnic armed groups. Concerns remain about the junta’s potential obstruction of humanitarian aid, echoing past instances of restricted aid delivery after natural disasters. International monitors are urging an immediate cessation of hostilities to facilitate the delivery of vital aid to those affected.

Read More