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Key events and updates
Myanmar: Earthquake
Situation overview as of 18 April 2025
- Nearly four weeks have passed after the earthquake. To date, approximately 3,700 deaths have been reported, 4,800 people injured and 129 people remain missing 1.
- Many health facilities are destroyed or damaged in the affected areas (640 hospitals/clinics reportedly damaged 2), disrupting access to health services, while many health facilities are operating under strained conditions.
- Significant needs for primary health care services are increasingly recognized, including for management of non-communicable diseases, reproductive health, and maternal and neonatal care.
- Essential medicines are in severe shortage, affecting the continued treatment of communicable diseases (e.g. HIV and tuberculosis) and noncommunicable diseases (e.g. hypertension and diabetes).
- Earthquake-affected communities face severe living conditions, including extreme heat, lack of adequate shelters, overcrowded displacement sites, damaged water supply systems and the absence of sanitation services (open defecation becomes inevitable). The monsoon and cyclone season may further challenge those staying in outdoor settings.
- These conditions heighten the risk of outbreaks of various diseases, such as water-borne diseases (e.g. cholera), vector-borne diseases (e.g. dengue, malaria), vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g. measles) and skin diseases.
- The psychological toll is mounting, particularly among children and vulnerable groups 1. The needs for mental health and psychosocial support are significant as communities grapple with the emotional impact of loss and distress, and the uncertainty of prolonged displacement amid aftershocks, untimely rains and extreme heat.
- On 11 April 2025, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) issued the Addendum to the Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) 2025 3, which seeks an additional US$275 million to deliver principled humanitarian assistance and protection to 1.1 million of the most vulnerable people.
- The total number of people in urgent need for health assistance due to the earthquake is estimated as 2.4 million, and 453 157 people are targeted for earthquake-related health response activities (Figure 1), with estimated costs of US$ 23 million. The number of people targeted for health response activities are highest in Mandalay (183 834 people) followed by Sagaing (115 234 people) and Bago East (88 236).
- Central Myanmar continues to experience frequent seismic activity. Over 140 aftershocks have been recorded—including 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude tremors near Nay Pyi Taw and Wundwin on 29 March and 13 April.