Myanmar Earthquake: 1,000 Killed, 2,000 Injured, Hospitals Overwhelmed, Blood Shortage, UN Pledges $5M — 10 Key Updates

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Soars Over 1,000 with Thousands More Injured Even as Rescue Operations Continue

Yangon, Myanmar – March 29, 2025: Apparently, the earthquake that smashed Myanmar last Friday took lives of not less than 1,000 individuals and left over 2,000 persons injured based on the official records. The disaster has upended the hospitals and rescue services. The public official’s announcement that the death toll is likely to get after the search and recovery operations might increase.  The midday earthquake left a great impact with its epicenter just next to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. 11 minutes after the first quake, a 6.4-magnitude aftershock plummeted and added to the frustration already reigning in the area. Geologists at the US Geological Survey report the possibility of humanity counting more death tolls than there are now.

The leader of the military junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, spoke to the people in a broadcast on state MRTV and asked for international help. “I have called on the international community to provide support for the relief efforts and have also allowed some offers for support from AHA Center and India,” he shared. In addition, he encouraged “any country” to help by signaling the possible result such as the dead and casualties in the next days. Major General Zaw Min Tun informed that Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Sagaing hospitals are overflooded with the injured. Official bodies have issued urgent appeals for blood donations, especially in the hardest-hit areas. International Response and Assistance The United Nations organization has shown its commitment to help those affected by the disaster in Myanmar. So far, they have allocated 5 thousand dollars in order to facilitate the emergency relief process. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, stated that the agency is grouping up resources from the operation in Southeast Asia to help the victims of the disaster. US President Donald Trump, on the other hand, offered his condolences and made clear that his administration would be supplying help.

“We’re going to be helping,” Trump said in the conversation with the Myanmar officials. India, the neighboring country, also expressed its willingness to support Myanmar by sending 15 tons of relief material including tents, sleeping bags, food supplies, hygiene kits, water purifiers, and necessary medicines. The equipment will be transported to Air Force Station Hindon by an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft. The quake’s effect of the shaking was felt in a broad radius by neighboring countries like Thailand and China.

In the Thai capital, a 33-floor building being built Tuesday, near Chatuchak market, suddenly fell down, claiming several souls and injuring a number of others. Police told journalists how locals left the spot while different particles of dust filtered the air. They went to the site and, after some digging through the rubble, the rescued the ones stuck and took the injured to the hospital.  Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in her comment, informed that all the relevant agencies had been ordered to be on high alert and warned of the possible aftershocks. She didn’t report of any other deaths beyond the event in Bangkok.

In China, the earthquake hit Yunnan and Sichuan provinces while reports have it that Ruili city buildings got damaged alongside a heavy shake of the ground in Mangshi where residence were supposed to stand but they almost dropped to their feet.

Continuing Aftershocks and Rescue Operations Aftershocks like the one that hit with 4.2 magnitudes on Friday night still persist. The quake was at a depth of 10 km and happened at 11:56 p.m., increasing the chance of more shakes in the area. Mandalay, with a population of 1.5 million, has been greatly ravaged. Lifeguards are working non-stop to locate survivors and liberate the trapped from the wreckage, including the monks said to be among those buried under the fall of Phaya Taung Monastery.

The human rights organization concerned with the rights of people living in Myanmar Nation, Amnesty International, explained the fact that the earthquake has brought only new challenges in the way of their struggle against poverty, introducing the numbers of those who have gone out of the universities, and the lack of support from the non-governmental organizations the scale of those items are the hardest to pass over.

The Pope sent his thoughts as well, during the time of his recovery at the hospital, and through his representatives directly. The Holy See reported the entire content of the prayer saying that “The pope has been informed of the disaster in Myanmar and is praying for the dramatic situation and for the many victims, also in Thailand.” As the disaster is still unfolded, the Myanmar’s military regime in a public announcement indicated its willingness to open its doors for foreign aid.