I44 dead, 732 injured in massive Myanmar Earthquake, tremors felt across Southeast Asia

New Delhi, Mar 28: At least 144 people have died, and 732 have been injured after a devastating earthquake struck central Myanmar, according to military leader Min Aung Hlaing as reported by international media quoting officials. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.

The 7.7 magnitude quake hit at 12:50 PM local time on Friday, with its epicentre 16 km northwest of Sagaing at a depth of 10 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A strong aftershock of 6.8 magnitude followed, worsening the destruction.

Casualties are being reported across multiple regions. In Naypyidaw, 132 people were injured, while 300 injuries were recorded in Sagaing. The full extent of damage in other areas is still being assessed. Mandalay, one of Myanmar’s major commercial and cultural hubs, has been severely affected. A mosque collapsed, trapping worshippers inside, and a fire broke out at a university, killing students. Hospitals in the capital, Naypyidaw, have been overwhelmed, with one 1,000-bed facility designated as a "mass casualty area," reports local media, creating massive fear among the local residents.  The earthquake also caused widespread power and communication outages, especially in Mandalay and Sagaing, making rescue operations difficult. The military government has declared a state of emergency in several regions, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Eastern Shan State, and Naypyidaw. Meanwhile, in Thailand, three people were killed when a high-rise building collapsed due to the quake's impact. The Red Cross says damaged infrastructure is hampering relief efforts. Myanmar's military leaders have appealed for international aid as emergency teams continue to search for survivors.

Bangkok declares disaster zone

The tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where metro and rail services were temporarily suspended. The Bangkok City Hall has declared the city a disaster zone following the collapse of an unfinished high-rise building near Chatuchak Market, where 43 construction workers are missing. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is holding an emergency meeting to assess the crisis. Despite the chaos, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has confirmed that all flights to and from Bangkok remain operational. The media reported that the earthquake’s effects rippled across China’s Yunnan province, where the China Earthquake Networks Centre recorded a magnitude of 7.9. In India, tremors were reported in Kolkata, Manipur, and Mizoram, with the Indian Meteorological Department recording a 4.4 magnitude tremor in parts of the Northeast. Residents in Dhaka and Chattogram, Bangladesh, also experienced mild shocks.

PM Modi expressed concern and offers Aid

Prime Minister Modi, who is visiting Thailand on April 3 to attend the BIMSTEC summit, expressed concern over the disaster, offering full support to Myanmar and Thailand at the time when the country faces a natural disaster in the shape of a massive earthquake. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he said: "Concerned by the situation in the wake of the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Praying for the safety and well-being of everyone. India stands ready to offer all possible assistance. Have asked our authorities to be on standby and the MEA to remain in touch with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand."

Viikram Misri, Foreign Secretary in a press briefing on Friday afternoon said, “We are analysing the damages.., we are in touch with the official authorities in Myanmar.., India has always been first responder and imagine by later evening we will have further more details of our response.”

Rescue efforts are underway amid massive obstructions

Rescue operations are ongoing across Myanmar and Thailand. Authorities in Bangkok are investigating the collapsed high-rise, while Myanmar’s emergency teams are working to clear debris and rescue survivors. However, the lack of power and communication networks is making coordination difficult.

With aftershocks expected in the coming hours, residents across the affected regions remain on high alert. The Myanmar humanitarian situation is already bad, and most of the news is filtered or censored.
Aid agencies say that around three million people are already internally displaced in the country, while the UN estimates more than a third of the population needs humanitarian assistance. With the devastating earthquake where rough estimates suggest hundreds are killed and massive damages of the buildings, bridges, roads and other infrastructure is further going to affect the locals. It also comes as the US has frozen most foreign aid, impacting human rights and humanitarian relief in Myanmar even though the administration from Myanmar has appealed for international aid.