Islamabad, Mar 29, 2025: A powerful Myanmar earthquake struck and Thailand, leaving over 1,000 people dead and thousands more injured.
Rescue teams are racing against time to locate survivors trapped under rubble as the region grapples with widespread destruction.
Deadly Quake Causes Massive Destruction
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit northwest of Sagaing, central Myanmar earthquake, followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock minutes later.
The tremors collapsed buildings, destroyed bridges, and cracked roads, leaving a trail of devastation.
Mandalay, Myanmar earthquake second-largest city with over 1.7 million residents, suffered severe damage, with historic pagodas reduced to rubble.
The military-led government confirmed at least 1,002 deaths and nearly 2,400 injuries, while Thailand reported around 10 casualties in Bangkok.
READ MORE:
Deadly Earthquake Strikes Myanmar and Thailand, Killing Over 144
Rescue Operations Face Challenges
Communication lines are badly disrupted, making it difficult to assess the full scale of the tragedy. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as more reports emerge from isolated regions.
Rescue workers have struggled due to damaged roads and blocked access routes. In Mandalay, officials reported the collapse of a monastery, killing a monk and injuring several people. Locals fear aftershocks and are avoiding buildings.
At Mandalay Airport, parts of the ceiling collapsed, forcing its closure and hampering relief efforts in a nation already struggling with a weakened emergency response system due to years of civil conflict.
Myanmar’s Junta Appeals for Aid
The military government, known for rejecting foreign assistance, made a rare plea for international help. Emergency teams in Naypyidaw are treating victims outdoors due to overwhelmed hospitals.
Global support is pouring in:
- India sent hygiene kits, blankets, and food supplies.
- China dispatched an 82-person rescue team.
- Russia, Malaysia, and Singapore are also sending relief supplies.
- South Korea pledged $2 million in humanitarian aid.
Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse
The earthquake also shook Bangkok, causing a 30-story under-construction tower to collapse. At least 10 people died, and 100 workers remain missing as rescue teams search for survivors.
Authorities are inspecting over 2,000 damaged buildings, while hundreds of displaced residents are sleeping in public parks due to unsafe homes.
A Region Unprepared for Disaster
Myanmar’s ongoing civil war had already displaced 3.5 million people, making relief efforts even more difficult.
Aid agencies warn that the country is ill-equipped to handle such a catastrophe, leaving survivors in urgent need of food, shelter, and medical assistance.
