Massive quake strikes Myanmar, leaving dozens dead, hundreds injured and many more missing

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, reportedly leaving over 50 dead, hundreds injured, and many more missing as it reduced buildings to rubble.

With fears mounting over the death toll, rescue teams across multiple nations are scrambling to assess the damage and provide aid. The quake’s force was felt across vast areas, from Myanmar’s rural conflict zones to Thailand’s towering skyscrapers and even into China’s remote Yunnan province, according to media reports.

The tremors that claimed at least 59 lives and injured over 250 tore through Myanmar’s war-torn landscape, reaching as far as Bangkok, where authorities swiftly declared the bustling capital an “emergency zone.”

Myanmar struggles to respond amid political turmoil

Myanmar, one of Asia’s most impoverished nations, has long struggled with disaster response due to its troubled history of military rule. Now, with civil war further crippling infrastructure, the country faces an uphill battle in coordinating relief efforts.

The ruling military junta has declared an emergency across central regions, including Mandalay and the capital, Naypyidaw, acknowledging multiple fatalities and urging urgent blood donations for the injured.

In contrast, Thailand — armed with far greater resources and experience — has launched rapid rescue operations. In Bangkok, the earthquake triggered the collapse of an under-construction high-rise, killing at least one person and injuring 50 others. Two additional fatalities have been reported in the city, while emergency teams work to free those still trapped beneath the debris.

Terror in the streets: Eyewitnesses describe chaos

Videos circulating online capture the sheer panic with buildings swaying, dust filling the air, and traffic coming to a standstill as terrified residents flee to safety.

“We could not run out immediately — the whole building was shaking like it was about to collapse,” said Mandalay resident Tun Kyaw (26), who sheltered under a desk for what felt like an eternity. “I wasn’t sure if I would make it out alive.”

In Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial hub, people poured into the streets as the tremors lasted nearly a minute. “Everyone ran. It was sudden and very strong,” one resident recounted. Others reported brief phone network outages before services were restored.

Epicenter in conflict zone

The US Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter in Myanmar’s Sagaing region — a rural area already decimated by ongoing battles between military forces and ethnic rebel groups. The war-torn landscape, riddled with checkpoints and blockades, is likely to hinder relief efforts, making the full extent of devastation hard to determine.

Early reports indicate that in Taungoo, a town 70 miles south of Naypyidaw, three people were killed when a mosque partially collapsed. In Mandalay, footage showed a bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River crumbling into the water below, sending plumes of dust skyward.

International community on high alert

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is gathering data on the humanitarian crisis, assessing immediate needs and damage. “We are working to determine the impact on infrastructure and human lives to guide our response,” said UN spokesperson Christina Powell.

Thailand’s Prime Minister has urged residents to remain vigilant as structural assessments of damaged high-rises continue. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, however, reported normal operations just hours after the quake.

As aftershocks continue to rattle the region — including one of magnitude 6.4 — fears grow that the worst is not yet over. The full scope of destruction remains uncertain, but for thousands across Myanmar and beyond, this disaster has already left a lasting scar.

India offers full support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged India's full support to Myanmar and Thailand in the aftermath of a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the region on March 28.

Expressing deep concern over the crisis, Modi assured that India stands ready to extend all possible assistance.

"We are in touch with the authorities in Myanmar and Thailand to provide necessary support," he stated in a post on X, offering prayers for the safety and well-being of those affected.

Modi has directed officials to remain on high alert and instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to coordinate closely with both governments to facilitate aid and relief efforts.

India has a long-standing record of humanitarian assistance in times of disaster. During the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, India launched Operation Dost, a large-scale relief effort that provided emergency supplies, life-saving medicines, and essential equipment worth ₹7 crore.

Reaffirming India’s commitment to global solidarity, the government emphasized that its assistance is rooted in the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the ancient Indian philosophy that envisions the world as one family.

With India’s swift response mechanism and history of aid outreach, the country is expected to play a key role in relief and recovery efforts for the affected regions.