Desperate situation after earthquake in Myanmar: Over 2,000 dead and more!

Desperate situation after earthquake in Myanmar: Over 2,000 dead and more!

In Myanmar, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the region on March 28, 2025 at 12:50 p.m. local time. The city of Sagaing, near the epicenter, is the most affected. Official figures from the military junta report more than 2,000 deaths and over 2,370 injuries, while experts believe the actual number is significantly higher. The destruction is enormous: residential and office buildings, bridges and historical buildings were severely damaged and some were completely destroyed. There are also reports of squalid conditions, particularly in Sagaing, where rescue workers have run out of body bags and the city is filled with the smell of rotting corpses, reported the news agency.

The situation on site is desperate: millions of people live in the areas affected by the earthquake. At the same time, the devastating tremors also caused damage in Thailand. In Bangkok, search work continued on a collapsed shell of a high-rise building, where another five bodies were discovered. The death toll in Bangkok now stands at over 20, while more than 70 people remain missing. The civilian infrastructure in Myanmar is severely limited by political and military conditions, making humanitarian aid even more difficult. Aid organizations like Malteser International have launched immediate emergency relief operations to help those affected with food, clothing, hygiene items, blankets and other urgently needed goods.

Relief efforts and international support

Donations from countries including China, Britain, India, Russia and the United Nations are arriving in Myanmar to support those suffering. However, there are concerns that the military junta could use the funds provided for other purposes, warned Human Rights Watch, which calls for full access to humanitarian aid for earthquake survivors.

In addition, internet access has been restricted in many affected areas, making it difficult to coordinate relief efforts. The political situation in Myanmar since the brutal coup in 2021 is having a negative impact on the effectiveness of relief efforts. The international community faces the challenge of providing aid while the country's government exercises tight control over the flow of information and distribution of aid.