Myanmar: Earthquake - Mar 2025

A strong earthquake of 7.7 M at a depth of 10 km occurred on 28 March at 06.20 UTC (12.50 local time) in Sagaing Region, central Myanmar. The epicentre was located about 16 km north-north-west of Sagaing city, and 19 km north-west of Mandalay city. An aftershock of 6.4 M at a depth of 10 km occurred in the same area at 06.32 UTC. Sagaing is home to 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) – a third of all IDPs in Myanmar. USGS PAGER estimates that up to 7,000 people were exposed to violent shaking, up to 2,866,000 people to severe shaking, and up to 10,190,000 exposed to strong and very strong shaking. According to media reports, several buildings collapsed in Mandalay city, and buckling roads have been observed in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar. The earthquake was felt in Bangkok and Chiang Mai cities in Thailand, where people have been evacuated from buildings, and in Yunnan and Shaanxi provinces in China. Aftershocks are continuing to be felt across the country. Myanmar has the fifth highest number of people in need of humanitarian assistance globally – 20 million, or about a third of the country. (ECHO, 28 Mar 2025)

As of 29 March 2025, the official death toll stood at over 1,600, with 3,408 people injured and over 200 people missing. According to early modelling by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people. Initial estimates indicate that 18.3 million people, 4.04 million households, and USD 77.5 billion in infrastructure are concentrated within the affected area. The earthquake compounds the protracted crisis generated by armed conflict, political instability and disasters (large-scale flooding and heatwaves in 2024, among others). [...] In Sagaing Township, it is reported that over 70% of structures have sustained significant damage. Many residential buildings have either completely collapsed or were severely damaged. Two bridges between the Yangon – Naypyidaw highways were reported as being damaged, risking the disruption of critical transportation routes between Yangon and the most affected regions. (IFRC, 30 Mar 2025)

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that as of 30 March, there are a total of 2,601 fatalities due to the earthquake, 1,790 in Mandalay city, 402 in the capital Naypyidaw, 314 in Sagaing city, 79 in Southern Shan state, 35 in Bago city, and 3,408 injured people. The worst affected areas are Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Shan South and East and Sagaing. Three hospitals have been destroyed and 22 have been partially damaged. According to media, as of 29 March, in Bangkok city area in Thailand, 17 people died, 83 are still missing and 32 have been injured due to a collapsed building. In Ruili city, in southeastern Yunnan province, in China, bordering eastern Myanmar, 2,840 people have been affected and 847 houses have been damaged. (ECHO, 31 Mar 2025)

As of 1 April, media reports more than 3,000 fatalities. The worst affected area is Mandalay city with nearly 1,800 fatalities. UN OCHA and MSF report over 300 people still missing, some 3,900 injured, and more than 13,000 displaced across the country. More than 10,000 buildings collapsed or were severely damaged. The Myanmar military has continued to conduct air strikes against civilians in the aftermath of the earthquake – the military seized power in a coup in 2021 and the country is in active conflict. (ECHO, 1 Apr 2025)

As of 3 April, media reports 3,085 fatalities, 4,715 injured people, still 341 missing people. The AHA Centre reports that 21,783 houses have been affected, of which 15,114 have been destroyed, and that the state of emergency remains in effect for Mandalay, Sagaing Magway, Shan State, Naypyidaw, and Bago areas. Media also reports that the military government declared a temporary ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian support for the affected people. Several opposition forces had already said they would stop hostilities in the wake of the earthquake. According to the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) report, in Thailand 20 fatalities, 35 injured people and 771 affected houses have been recorded. (ECHO, 3 Apr 2025)

The AHA Centre reports that as of 6 April, there are approximately 3,500 fatalities, 210 missing persons, more than 5,000 injured people, and around 69,100 displaced people, with the worst affected area being the Mandalay region. UN OCHA also reports over 17 million affected people across the country. [...] Despite a ceasefire announced on 2 April, over 30 attacks have been reported as taking place since then, including in earthquake-affected areas. (ECHO, 7 Apr 2025)

As of 8 April, media reports indicate over 3,600 deaths, 160 missing persons, 5,017 injured, and approximately 69,100 displaced individuals. The Mandalay region has been the hardest hit, while UN OCHA estimates that over 17.2 million people have been affected across the impacted areas. Humanitarian partners, supported by DG ECHO, are providing aid on the ground. In neighbouring Thailand, the earthquake has caused 23 fatalities and 36 injuries, according to the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), with the Bangkok city area being the most severely affected. (ECHO, 8 Apr 2025)

More than 9 million people (including 2.7 million children) are estimated to be the worst affected across 58 townships in Bago East, Kayin, Magway, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Shan South, and Sagaing. Latest reports indicate continued infrastructure damage which include 193 healthcare facilities, and 2,311 schools. There is a growing concern among communities about the risk of infectious diseases, due to improperly managed corpses and the lack of access to safe water and sanitation facilities. A cluster of mild to moderate acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases has been reported in Sagaing Township and urban areas of Mandalay. WASH cluster partners have so far identified over 42,000 damaged latrines and report significant damage to urban water systems and rural aquifers. Extreme heat - reaching 44°C (111°F) – and off-season rains are further exacerbating the situation for responders and survivors, many of whom are still sleeping outdoors. (UNICEF, 9 Apr 2025)

The death toll continues to rise in Myanmar and Thailand following the strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck near Mandalay city on 28 March. In the past seven days, at least five additional earthquakes up to 4.8 magnitude have been recorded between Mandalay and the capital, Naypyidaw. In Myanmar, the AHA Centre reports 3,603 fatalities, 141 people still missing, and 4,817 injured. Nearly 200,000 people are currently displaced, with 40,896 of them staying in 127 temporary shelters. In Thailand, 30 people have died and 38 others have been injured. (ECHO, 11 Apr 2025)

A new earthquake of 5.5 M at a depth of 7.7 km occurred on 13 April at 02.24 UTC (08.54 local time) in the Mandalay region of central Myanmar. The epicentre was located about 34 km north-northeast of Meiktila city and 78 km south of Mandalay city. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) PAGER estimates that up to 86,000 people were exposed to severe shaking, while 631,000 were exposed to strong and very strong shaking. According to the AHA Centre, as of 12 April, the death toll continues to rise in both Myanmar and Thailand. In Myanmar, there are 3,648 fatalities, 134 missing people, and 4,817 injured people, with approximately 200,000 displaced, of whom 42,118 are in 134 temporary shelters. In Thailand, 42 people have died and 38 others have been injured. OCHA Myanmar, the WHO, and the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit have requested assistance from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). Six EU Member States have offered shelter and medical items. (ECHO, 14 Apr 2025)

With 640 healthcare facilities now registered as damaged and remaining health facilities overwhelmed and reporting critical shortages of medical supplies [...] Many families are still sleeping outside – exposed to extreme heat and off-season rains (which have already started), as well as vector-borne diseases, including dengue and malaria. [...] There has been widespread destruction of water systems, including broken boreholes and damaged piped networks, along with the collapse of over 76,000 latrines. There is a growing concern among communities about the risk of infectious diseases due to improperly managed corpses and the lack of access to safe water and sanitation facilities. A cluster of mild to moderate acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases has been reported in Sagaing township and urban areas of Mandalay, though no cases of cholera have been confirmed to date. [...] More than 2,600 schools have reportedly been damaged. (UNICEF, 16 Apr 2025)

Central Myanmar continues to experience frequent seismic activity almost daily. Since the destructive quakes, more than 140 aftershocks have been recorded, including two with 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude tremors near Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and Wundwin Town on 29 March and 13 April, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. The United States Geological Survey indicates that aftershocks may persist for months following a major earthquake, especially in tectonically active regions like Myanmar. To date, 3,700 deaths have been reported, 4,800 people injured and 129 people remain missing, according to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre). The real toll is likely much higher, with challenges in data collection, verification and processing and underreporting making it difficult to grasp the full scale of the disaster. (OCHA, 18 Apr 2025)

According to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), as of 18 April, nearly 3,900 people have died, most of them in the Mandalay Region (2 483 fatalities), followed by Naypyidaw Union Territory (657), Sagaing Region (615), Bago Region (81), and Shan State (33). Additionally, 441 people remain missing and 5,742 have been injured. (ECHO, 23 Apr 2025)