Massive Earthquake in Myanmar Claims Over 3,300 Lives

By Noma Grant

On March 28, 2025, a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, unleashing widespread devastation and claiming over 3,300 lives. As of April 6, 2025, the death toll stands at 3,354 according to state media, with the number expected to rise as rescue efforts continue amidst challenging conditions. The epicenter, located near Mandalay—Myanmar’s second-largest city—has left a trail of destruction across a region inhabited by approximately 28 million people, compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis fuelled by ongoing civil conflict.

A Nation in Ruins

The earthquake, one of the most powerful to hit Myanmar in a century, flattened buildings, buckled roads, and toppled bridges in multiple regions, including Mandalay, Sagaing, and the military capital, Naypyidaw. Over 5,000 buildings, 1,800 schools, and thousands of pagodas and temples have been damaged or destroyed, according to Myanmar’s military government. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a staggering 500-kilometer-long surface rupture, with up to five meters of fault slip, underscoring the sheer force of the disaster. In Mandalay alone, residents describe scenes resembling a war zone, with entire communities reduced to rubble and the smell of death lingering in the air.

The human toll is immense. In addition to the 3,354 confirmed deaths, more than 4,850 people have been injured, and over 200 remain missing. Rescue workers have pulled survivors from the debris, including a man in Mandalay who endured five days under rubble and a 63-year-old woman rescued in Naypyidaw. However, hope of finding more survivors is fading as the critical 72-hour "golden window" has long passed. Local media suggest the true casualty count may be higher, with telecommunications outages and inaccessible areas hindering accurate reporting.

A Humanitarian Crisis Amplified

Myanmar was already grappling with a humanitarian emergency before the quake struck. Since the military coup in 2021 that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, the country has been mired in civil war. The junta’s struggle to maintain control has left the economy in tatters, healthcare systems collapsed, and millions without adequate food or shelter. The earthquake has "supercharged the suffering," as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres put it, striking a nation ill-equipped to respond.

Unseasonal rains and extreme heat in the days following the quake have further complicated relief efforts. Aid agencies warn of potential disease outbreaks—such as malaria, dengue, and skin infections—among survivors camping in open fields or makeshift tents. The U.N. has called for urgent international support, with aid chief Tom Fletcher appealing for more tents and supplies during a visit to Mandalay. "The destruction is staggering. Lives lost. Homes destroyed. Livelihoods shattered," Fletcher said, urging the world to rally behind Myanmar.

Relief Efforts and Political Tensions

International response has been swift but uneven. China, India, Russia, and Southeast Asian nations have dispatched rescue teams and pledged millions in aid, with Beijing contributing $13.76 million to bolster its image in a country where it has historically backed the junta. The United States, once a leading humanitarian donor, pledged $9 million, but its capacity to respond has been hampered by the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID. Three U.S. aid workers were reportedly laid off while in Myanmar, drawing criticism from former officials who argue the U.S. is ceding influence to rivals like China.

Within Myanmar, the military junta’s response has been contentious. Initially refusing a ceasefire with armed resistance groups, the junta reversed course after firing warning shots near a Chinese Red Cross convoy, declaring a truce until April 22 to facilitate aid delivery. However, the U.N. Human Rights Office accuses the military of continuing attacks, reporting over 60 incidents since the quake, including 16 after the ceasefire. Aid organizations allege the junta is blocking supplies to areas not aligned with its rule, a charge that echoes longstanding accusations of aid weaponization in the conflict.

Stories of Resilience and Loss

Amid the chaos, stories of heroism and tragedy have emerged. In Bangkok, where the quake’s effects were also felt, a man leapt across a 600-foot gap between collapsing skyscrapers to save his family, a moment captured in a viral video. In Myanmar, five young doctors who defied the junta to treat coup victims were among the dead in Mandalay, their surviving colleague returning from the battlefield to find them gone. In Sagaing, near the epicenter, residents like Ko Zeyar sleep on roads and football pitches, too afraid of aftershocks to return indoors.

A Long Road Ahead

As Myanmar reels from this natural disaster, questions loom about its ability to recover. The junta’s poor emergency response and the ongoing civil war cast doubt on rebuilding efforts, despite relentless propaganda claiming otherwise. For many, the earthquake is seen as a grim metaphor—nature’s punishment for a nation under "cruel and corrupt" rule, as one resident told The New York Times.

With the monsoon season approaching, the immediate priority is shelter, medical care, and preventing disease. The international community faces a test of coordination and commitment to support a country fractured by both nature and politics. For now, Myanmar’s people endure, their resilience stretched to the breaking point as they mourn the lost and cling to hope amid the ruins.

Noma Grant is a freelance journalist and writer for Veritas Expositae

You can reach her at noma.grant@veritasexpositae.com