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OVERVIEW: MARCH 2025 EARTHQUAKE
On 28 March 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock in Mandalay region (ECHO 28/03/2025; AJ 28/03/2025). Myanmar’s military junta, known as the State Administrative Council (SAC), declared a state of emergency in six affected states and regions: Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, and northeastern Shan state (Firstpost 28/03/2025). The earthquake exposed an estimated 7,000 people to violent shaking, around 2.87 million to severe shaking, and around 10.2 million to strong or very strong shaking (ECHO 28/03/2025). By 29 March, the SAC reported around 1,650 people killed and 3,410 injured (The Guardian 29/03/2025). These figures are expected to rise in the coming days as responders gain access to affected areas, and may only reflect casualties in areas under SAC control.
In Mandalay region, the most severe shaking affected the following townships: Amarapura, Aungmyaythazan, Chanayethazan, Chanmyathazi, Kyaukse, Madaya, Maha Aungmyay, Ngazun, Myittha, Patheingyi, Pyigyitagong, Pyinoolwin, Singu, Sintgaing, Tada-U, Thazi, and Wundwin (ECHO 28/03/2025; WFP 28/03/2025; MIMU 06/09/2023 and 17/05/2024). By 28 March, several high-rise buildings in Mandalay city had collapsed and a fire had broken out in parts of the city (Myanmar Now 28/03/2025; TOI 28/03/2025). The earthquake damaged bridges, including Ava Bridge linking Mandalay and Sagaing, along with the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay expressway and Mandalay International Airport, which may affect humanitarian access (China Daily 28/03/2025; The Irrawaddy 28/03/2025; OCHA 29/03/2025).