Myanmar Reels From Its Strongest Earthquake in Over a Century

Damaged buildings in Mandalay are seen in the aftermath of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March 2025. Credit: UNICEF/Nyan Zay Htet

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 9 2025 (IPS)

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, marked the strongest earthquake the nation has experienced in over a century and the second deadliest in it’s history. The earthquake caused extensive damage in Myanmar and Thailand, with infrastructures in southern China and Vietnam also having been affected.

According to a recent humanitarian report released by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there are currently over 3,600 recorded deaths as a result of the earthquake in Myanmar. Over 5,000 people have been injured and approximately 60 remain missing. Roughly 10.4 million people live in areas that have been ravaged by the earthquake.

These estimates are expected to increase as recovery efforts continue. Additionally, many areas in Myanmar have been cut off from electricity and telephone connections, which, compounded with damaged roads and extensive rubble has made recovery efforts increasingly difficult in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar, has been hit the hardest. According to testimonies from residents, bodies continue to be pulled out of the rubble to be “cremated in stacks”. Crematoriums in Mandalay have been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of bodies that have been recovered, with some facing shortages of body bags and other essential supplies.

As a result of the recent earthquake and Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, the humanitarian crisis in the nation has significantly escalated, with displacement, violence, extreme heat, and a lack of basic services affecting over 17.2 million people. “One thing that I have been struck by here is that you would think earthquakes hit everyone equally, but they hit the poorest hardest because they do not have the resources to respond, to move house, to live elsewhere, to start to rebuild,” said Tom Fletcher, the United Nations (UN) Emergency Relief Coordinator.

In December 2024, a UN assessment declared that Myanmar’s healthcare system was in a state of collapse as a result of damage to medical infrastructures sustained in the war. With the recent earthquake, Myanmar’s healthcare system has deteriorated even further and is largely unable to assist the influx of injured persons.

According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), over 65 healthcare facilities in Myanmar have been damaged and medical supplies are in short supply. Additionally, over 40 percent of the healthcare facilities in the nation are located in areas that are entrenched in warfare, making them inaccessible to the vast majority of civilians.

“The needs are beyond words,” said Nadia Khoury, Head of the The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) delegation in Myanmar. “Our response must match the sheer scale of the disaster – now and for the longer term.”

Another rising concern for humanitarian organizations has been the failure of Myanmar’s water and sanitation infrastructure, which leaves millions at risk of developing waterborne illness. Extreme heat, heavy rain, and overcrowded displacement shelters are also projected to worsen the spread of disease.

“Heavy rains flooded drains, polluting the environment and increasing public health risks including diarrhoea due to flies and insects. Many camps lack proper latrines, forcing people to dispose of human waste without adequate sanitation,” said Rajan Khosla, Oxfam’s Country Director in Myanmar. “There are significant hygiene challenges for the camp population, as food is cooked outdoors, making it difficult to prepare meals after rain. This increases the risk of contamination and the spread of diseases.”

WHO reports that cholera, dengue, malaria, measles, and a re-emergence of polio are of particular concern. Additionally, WHO emphasizes that mental health challenges as a result of trauma are persistent.

The displacement crisis in Myanmar has been greatly exacerbated following the earthquake. Currently, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that approximately 4.3 million people are displaced, including roughly 3.5 million internally displaced civilians in Myanmar.

“Our lives were just getting better. Now the earthquake has made me flee again. Right now, everyone is suffering [but] among those affected, we are the worst. As displaced people, our troubles are doubled. We have nowhere to live and nothing to live on,” said U Than Win, an internally displaced resident of Myanmar.

Children have been hit especially hard by this crisis, with many suffering from the effects of trauma and a lack of education and psychosocial support services. According to figures from the UN, roughly 1,824 schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without an education. “Many children have lost their parents, their friends and they need a place where they can get psychosocial support and begin to feel a sense of normalcy,” Eliana Drakopoulos, Chief of Communications at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Myanmar.

“This earthquake is another brutal blow to children in Myanmar—many of whom were already living through conflict, displacement, and deprivation,” added UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “In minutes, they lost loved ones, homes, and access to essential services. The needs are massive and rising by the hour.”

Additionally, the Myanmar Civil War continues to endanger the lives of civilians and complicates relief efforts from humanitarian organizations. Despite the National Unity Government (NUG) and the State Administration Council (SAC) both declaring ceasefires of varying lengths after the earthquakes, a coalition of armed resistance groups, known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance, accused the military of coordinating 63 separate attacks, resulting in 68 civilian casualties.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), these attacks have made it largely impossible for humanitarian aid personnel to reach areas that have been hit the hardest by the earthquake, such as the Sagaing region and areas in Bago and Shan State. Additionally, OHCHR reports that the military has continued its conscription efforts, recruiting young civilians that have not been seriously injured.

“I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake, as well as ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian organizations that are ready to support,” said UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk. “The humanitarian and protection needs of the civilian population must be addressed without delay and without restriction…It is critical that international assistance reach the people of Myanmar through international coordination mechanisms and support the civil society and community-based networks that are playing the frontline role to provide relief on the ground.”

IPS UN Bureau Report