A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Sagaing, Myanmar, on March 28, causing widespread destruction across Myanmar and neighboring countries. It was followed soon after by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, triggering additional tremors. The quake’s shallow depth of just 10 kilometers intensified surface damage. Myanmar saw extensive structural collapse – buildings, monasteries, bridges, and roads were heavily damaged, and a dam burst in one city, flooding nearby lowland areas.
The official death toll has surpassed 2,700, with more than 4,500 injured and over 400 still missing. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the final toll in Myanmar could exceed 10,000.
The full extent of the devastation remains unclear due to the ongoing civil conflict in the country. Since the 2021 military coup, rebel forces have taken control of parts of the Sagaing region, which was hardest hit by the quake. In a rare move, the People’s Defence Force (PDF) announced a two-week pause in offensive operations to focus on rescue and relief efforts.
Accurate reporting from the region remains difficult, as the military junta tightly controls media and communications. Civilians are dealing with widespread internet outages and power blackouts, limiting access to aid and the ability to report conditions. Foreign journalists are barred from entering, and travel to Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos is strongly discouraged due to continued aftershocks, armed conflict, and unstable conditions.
As one of Asia’s poorest nations, Myanmar has historically struggled to respond effectively to major natural disasters, often refusing international assistance and downplaying the scale of crises. In this case, however, the government has accepted foreign aid in response to the overwhelming needs. With urgent shortages of blood, food, clean water, shelter, and medical supplies, international rescue teams have been allowed to enter the country to support the strained local response.