On Friday 28 March 2025 at just before 1pm local time, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Sagaing Region of Myanmar. The epicenter was close to Mandalay, the country's second-largest city and the quake was followed by a number of aftershocks.
The tremors were felt across the region, impacting Thailand, China, India and Bangladesh. Current reports (at the time of publishing) show that more than 2,800* people have died as a result of the earthquakes and around 4,600 have been injured. Numbers are still likely to rise significantly as response efforts, including search and recovery, continue.
Most of the casualties are in Myanmar, where the local authorities have declared a state of emergency in the most affected regions of the country.
What are the humanitarian needs after the quakes?
There has been significant damage to infrastructure, roads, dams, electricity and internet sources. Hospitals are overwhelmed as huge numbers of injured people continue to be brought in for treatment. Some patients are being treated in parking lots and on the street because emergency departments have been damaged or they have run out of space.
Along with communication challenges with electricity and internet connectivity, destroyed bridges on main roads and a collapsed air traffic control tower at Mandalay airport have made getting aid access to people who have been affected extremely difficult. Some news reports showed elephants helping to remove rubble to help search for potential survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The most urgent needs people are facing right now are medical care, shelter, food, water, and sanitation and hygiene provisions.
What is Tearfund doing to help?
Tearfund’s four local partners in Myanmar are involved in the search and rescue efforts and have been carrying out needs assessments to determine where and how best to support people in greatest need. Tearfund’s partners are providing immediate cash assistance to people who have been affected, enabling them to buy food, water and other urgent supplies. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable, including, for example, families with children, older people and people with disabilities.
