Mandalay, Myanmar — A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar on Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 140 lives and causing widespread destruction, particularly in the ancient city of Mandalay. The quake, which struck around lunchtime, was followed by a significant aftershock and several moderate tremors, complicating rescue efforts across the region.
First responders reported harrowing scenes in Mandalay, where multi-story apartment buildings crumbled and infrastructure suffered severe damage. “I have never experienced anything like this before – our town looks like a collapsed city,” said a rescue worker from the nearby township of Amarapura, who noted that at least 30 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage. He estimated that approximately 20% of the town’s buildings were destroyed.
General Min Aung Hlaing, leader of Myanmar’s military junta, addressed the nation, warning that the death toll may rise and inviting international assistance. “We are ready to receive help and donations from any country,” he stated.
In a show of solidarity, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would provide aid, despite ongoing cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “We’re going to be helping,” Trump told reporters at the White House. USAID spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that disaster experts were prepared to assist with food and potable water, stating, “We are ready to move now.”
The earthquake’s impact extended beyond Myanmar’s borders, with at least nine confirmed deaths in Thailand, where rescuers searched through the rubble of a collapsed skyscraper. In Mandalay, emergency workers faced the daunting task of reaching dozens of monks trapped under the debris of the Phaya Taung Monastery. State-run MRTV reported at least 144 fatalities and over 732 injuries across Myanmar.
Residents described moments of sheer terror as buildings shook and collapsed. “We all ran out of the house as everything started shaking,” said one Mandalay resident, who witnessed a five-story building crumble before his eyes. “Everyone in my town is out on the road, and no one dares to go back inside.”
Reports from the capital Naypyidaw indicated significant damage to a 1,000-bed hospital, while roads were left with deep fissures, hampering rescue efforts. The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the United Nations was mobilizing support in Southeast Asia for those affected.
The earthquake struck a country already grappling with severe humanitarian challenges. Since the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has seen widespread violence and displacement, with over three million people forcibly uprooted. The junta’s ability to respond to disasters has been severely hampered by its ongoing struggle against insurgent groups and a fractured civil society.
Nyi Nyi Kyaw, a Myanmar academic, emphasized the dire situation, noting that the country’s infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle such a catastrophe. “Myanmar is wholly unable to deal with the shock and its aftermath,” he said.
In Bangkok, chaos erupted as people fled onto the streets in panic, including hotel guests still in bathrobes and swimsuits, while water poured down from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel.
According to Bangkok Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej, eight individuals were confirmed dead due to the building collapse, with a ninth casualty reported elsewhere. Rescue teams at the site indicated that more than 100 people remain unaccounted for.
As rescue operations continue and the full extent of the disaster becomes clearer, the international community watches closely, hoping for a swift response to aid the devastated nation.
