Earthquake March 2025 and Beyond

For most of us the sky means Freedom – but the reality Myanmar civilians face every day- caught between landmines and airstrikes, between earth and sky:
https://insightmyanmar.org/complete-shows/2025/4/30/episode-341-the-unfriendly-skies

Dear all,
Sadly writing about the latest disaster with very heavy heart.
On 28 March, a 7.7 earthquake struck the Sagaing region of Myanmar- close to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city. Many of you may be seeing the horrific images coming out of Myanmar.
AID needs to get directly to the people urgently! The concern is any aid funneling through the junta will not reach out to people in need as was the case during the 2008 Nargis Cyclone and again 2023 Cyclone Mocha.   And just a day after this earthquake, the junta has continued on their inhumane bombings of civilians in areas of Sagaing and Shan State.

Mandalay and Sagaing is dealing with massive damage, not only to residences and hotels, but to several ancient sites, monasteries, mosques and schools.
The scope of destruction is unfathomable around Mandalay and Sagaing, not only to residences and hotels, but to several ancient sites, monasteries, mossques and schools. Sites held sacred for centuries, collapsed in a few seconds. Several hospitals have also been severely damaged including the main hospital in the capital Naypyidaw.

Mandalay airport re-opened on 08 April so hopefully aid will get to the severely damaged areas easier as bridges have collapsed and roads are in bad shape.

Inle Lake area in Shan State:
Reports also coming out of Inle Lake area in Shan State suffering from lots of damage.
See work on the ground reported by Jochen, an Austrian living in Myanmar for 13 years..working with:
https://www.sonne-international.org/en/

Fortunately Bagan and Yangon was not hit that hard and I am relieved to hear friends there are safe, but are again feeling tremendous sadness with the situation their country continues to endure.

The earthquake was also felt as far as Bangkok in Thailand where a 30-storey building under construction, collapsed like a deck of cards. Praying for rescue teams to find survivors buried under the rubble. Many of these workers are also from Myanmar as well as Thai. Several other buildings were evacuated and are under inspection. Life has been returning to normal in Bangkok and hopefully there will not be any further damaging aftershocks. It is odd that only one building in Bangkok collapsed as it did.

Rescue teams have tried their best to find any survivors beneath the rubble. Heartbreaking stories. Many teams have already left Myanmar though, and much more help is still needed -especially to the hardest hist areas. Sadly aid and supplies handed over to the junta is easily blocked.

Below are a few links where donations can get into safe hands on the ground reaching out directly to people in need.

Donations of any amount are needed and appreciated:

Mutual Aid Myanmar- check out who this group of people are:

https://mutualaidmyanmar.org

Organizations based and working directly on the ground in Myanmar:

Skills for Humanity: https://skillsforhumanity.wordpress.com/

Sonne Social: https://sonnesocial.org/
International Donations via Sonne International based in Vienna:
https://www.sonne-international.org/en/

Insight Myanmar– lots of updates on their podcasts and support for: A Better Burma:
https://insightmyanmar.org/donation

Follow their updates on Facebook

Kim Aris- the son of Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains imprisoned, is currently on a campaign in the US raising awareness for Myanmar and his mother who turns 80 this year.  Those on Facebook can follow his campaign:   Kim Aris – Htein Lin 

Kim Aris is coordinating donations with a team able to reach out on the ground in Myanmar:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/earthquake-myaanmar-aid

Mid- April is normally a time of Thingyan-New Year celebrations. While so many hopes and dreams have felt lost, may this be a time of renewal.
Thank you and may the people of Myanmar remain strong! 

Much of the world sadly forgets about Myanmar:
Follow more news on:  https://www.irrawaddy.com

Countries that have sent rescue teams or have pledged aid:
tps://www.reuters.com/business/environment/doctors-dogs-dollars-who-is-giving-aid-myanmar-after-earthquake-2025-03-31/

Eyes of a Myanmar Migrant Worker feeling helpless abroad:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74z9l1lw9do

BBC report includes from a journalist who managed to get into Myanmar under cover–
( Foreign media as well as tourists are being denied entry to the country )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUMT0aB3cbM

What caused the Myanmar earthquake and why did it make a high-rise building in Bangkok collapse: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d4dn18nzgo

Back to Main Myanmar Page: https://alamasia.net/asia-destinations-news-and-links/myanmar/