- By Talibuddin Khan
- Sat, 29 Mar 2025 05:44 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Myanmar Earthquake: A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, killing over 140 people and injuring more than 700. The hardest-hit area was Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, with buildings collapsing and infrastructure severely damaged. The initial quake was followed by a powerful aftershock and multiple moderate tremors, worsening the damage. Reports indicate that about 20% of buildings in some areas have been destroyed. Emergency workers are struggling to rescue people trapped under the debris due to a lack of manpower and equipment.
"The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” the head of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said as he announced on television that at least 144 people were killed and 730 others were injured in his country.
Myanmar Earthquake News: Top Updates
- In Amarapura, at least 30 bodies were recovered from collapsed apartment buildings. Dozens of Buddhist monks are feared trapped under rubble in Phaya Taung Monastery, and a 1,000-bed hospital in Naypyidaw has sustained damage. In Taungoo, a mosque partially collapsed, killing at least three people.
- State media said the quake caused the collapse of buildings in five cities and towns, as well as a railway bridge and a road bridge on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway. Images showed the destroyed Ava Bridge over the Irrawaddy River, its arches leaning into the water.
(Reuters Image)
- The earthquake also impacted neighbouring Thailand, where a skyscraper under construction collapsed in Bangkok, killing at least 10 people. Rescuers are still searching for missing workers trapped in the rubble. Bangkok city authorities said 10 people were killed, 16 injured and 101 missing from three construction sites, including the high-rise.
- In Mandalay, the earthquake reportedly brought down multiple buildings, including one of the city's largest monasteries. Photos from the capital city of Naypyidaw showed rescue crews pulling victims from the rubble of multiple buildings used to house civil servants.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over the earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand and expressed readiness to offer all possible assistance. "Concerned by the situation in the wake of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Praying for the safety and well-being of everyone. India stands ready to offer all possible assistance. In this regard, asked our authorities to be on standby. Also asked the MEA to remain in touch with the Governments of Myanmar and Thailand," he wrote on X.
(Reuters Image)
- Myanmar’s military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, has requested international assistance. The US has pledged support, and the UN is mobilising aid in Southeast Asia. The quake caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, and railways. The iconic Ava Bridge over the Irrawaddy River collapsed, and the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway suffered structural failures.
- Rescue teams are struggling to reach survivors, especially in monasteries where dozens of monks are trapped. In Naypyidaw, the capital, a 1,000-bed hospital was damaged, and roads were left with massive fissures.
(Reuters Image)
- The collapse of key infrastructure, including the Ava Bridge over the Irrawaddy River, has worsened the crisis. With aftershocks continuing and thousands feared trapped, authorities warn that the death toll may rise further in the coming days.