The Mandalay Earthquake of 2025 refers to a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, with its epicenter near Sagaing, close to Mandalay. Here’s an update based on the latest available information:
The initial quake caused widespread destruction, flattening buildings, bridges, and centuries-old temples across Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Sagaing, and Shan State. The official death toll has reached 3,649, with 4,671 injured and 214 still missing as of mid-April. Over 5,223 buildings, 1,824 schools, 4,817 pagodas and temples, 167 hospitals, and 169 bridges were damaged, severely impacting infrastructure and access to services. Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, was among the hardest hit, with iconic structures like the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery and the Old Masoeyein monastery heavily damaged or destroyed. The quake also triggered secondary disasters, including fires in the Sein Pan district of Mandalay, further compounding the devastation.
Aftershocks have continued to rattle the region, adding to the trauma of survivors. A significant 5.5-magnitude aftershock struck near Meiktila on April 12, roughly halfway between Mandalay and Naypyidaw, at a depth of 7.7 to 20 kilometers. No major additional damage or casualties were immediately reported from this event, but it heightened anxiety during the Thingyan New Year festival, which began on April 13. Another 4.5-magnitude aftershock was reported 14 km from Mandalay on April 17, according to posts on X. The Myanmar military junta banned music and dance during the festival, reflecting the somber mood as thousands mourned amid the ruins.
Relief efforts have been hampered by multiple challenges. Heavy rains and winds starting in early April disrupted rescue operations, soaked survivors in tent camps, and raised concerns about disease outbreaks, especially with the monsoon season approaching. The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, described the destruction in Mandalay as “epic,” noting that survivors urgently need food, water, shelter, and electricity. MSF (Doctors Without Borders) has stepped up its response, providing medical supplies, installing water tanks at hospitals like Mandalay General, and offering psychological first aid. China pledged $137 million in humanitarian aid, while Indonesian Red Cross workers have delivered aid materials. However, the U.S. response has drawn criticism—three USAID workers were laid off during their mission in Myanmar due to the Trump administration’s dismantling of the agency, leaving the U.S. unable to deploy its usual disaster response teams effectively.
The military junta’s poor emergency response has fueled frustration. Critics, including the shadow National Unity Government, accuse the junta of delaying international aid and continuing attacks despite temporary ceasefires, with 63 air strikes and artillery attacks reported since the quake, killing 68 civilians. The junta’s closure of private hospitals in Mandalay sympathetic to the resistance has further strained medical care, forcing doctors to treat patients outside damaged facilities amid extreme heat (up to 44°C) and mosquito-infested nights.
The earthquake’s impact is exacerbated by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war and political instability since the 2021 coup. Many quake-hit communities were already hosting displaced people, stretching local resilience to its limits. Survivors like Ma Phyu, camping north of Mandalay’s Royal Palace, describe widespread hardship. The UN warns that traumatized survivors face a “compounding crisis” of earthquake aftermath, conflict, and pre-existing humanitarian needs, with 20 million people in Myanmar already requiring aid before the disaster struck.
This update reflects the situation as of April 17, 2025, based on available reports. The full scope of the disaster may still be unfolding as aftershocks and weather challenges persist. [Sources: web:1, web:2, web:8, web:9, web:10, web:12, web:16, web:17, post:7]