A powerful earthquake that rocked Myanmar has killed at least 1700 people, the country's authorities said on March 29, 2025. The magnitude 7,7 seismic event, centered near the city of Mandalay, caused widespread destruction, leaving thousands injured and hundreds missing. Officials said the death toll could rise as rescue efforts have yet to reach all of the affected areas. At least 3400 people are known to have been injured and about 300 people are missing, indicating continued chaos in the disaster area.

The situation in Myanmar is complicated by destroyed infrastructure and limited access to remote areas. In Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, homes, temples and multi-story buildings have collapsed, while roads and bridges have become impassable obstacles for rescuers. Authorities say hundreds of people may be trapped under the rubble, and a lack of heavy equipment has forced volunteers to clear debris by hand. The humanitarian disaster is compounded by the country’s ongoing military conflict, which has made it difficult to coordinate aid and deliver medicines to affected areas.

Neighbouring Thailand has also felt the effects of the disaster. In Bangkok, 600 miles away, the death toll has risen to 17, with 32 injured. Eighty-three people are listed as missing, most of whom are believed to have been trapped under the rubble of a 83-storey skyscraper under construction that collapsed. Rescue teams are working around the clock, using cranes and sniffer dogs to find survivors, but hopes are fading by the hour. Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency in the capital, temporarily suspending subway service and evacuating residents of high-rise buildings.

The March 28 earthquake was one of the most destructive in the region in decades. Aftershocks, including one measuring 6,4, followed the main shock, adding to the destruction. In Myanmar, not only modern buildings were damaged, but also historical monuments: centuries-old pagodas collapsed in Mandalay, and government buildings were damaged in Naypyitaw. The international community responded quickly to the tragedy. China and India sent humanitarian aid to Myanmar, including medicines and search-and-rescue teams, and Russia sent two Emergencies Ministry planes with rescue teams, acting on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin.