Mandalay, Myanmar – March 28, 2025
Cries for help echo through the ruins of Myanmar’s second-largest city as the nation reels from one of its most powerful earthquakes in decades. Survivors describe scenes of heartbreak and horror after a 7.7 magnitude quake tore through central Myanmar on Friday, toppling buildings and cutting off entire communities.
“People are screaming, ‘Help me, help me!’” a rescuer in Mandalay told the media. “We’re digging through rubble with our bare hands.”
According to Myanmar’s state figures, the death toll has officially surpassed 1,600, with over 700 injured. However, the actual numbers may be higher, as communication blackouts and restricted access continue to hinder relief efforts.
Among the victims were children, families, and worshippers caught in collapsed mosques during Friday prayers. In one harrowing account, a woman said she could hear mothers and children still trapped beneath the debris of a hotel. “It’s desperate to watch,” she said. “We need help.”
Country in Crisis, Survivors in Shock
Footage and reports from Mandalay, Yangon, and Nay Pyi Taw show collapsed high-rises, shattered bridges, and torn-up highways. In Mandalay, social media images revealed significant damage to historic landmarks, including parts of the royal palace.
A 90-year-old bridge gave way, while the main express highway linking Yangon to Mandalay cracked open, forcing humanitarian agencies to reroute or suspend relief operations.
In Nay Pyi Taw, the capital, a hospital was declared a “mass casualty area.” Survivors were seen lying on gurneys outside, IVs dangling from makeshift poles. Many medical facilities are overwhelmed or inoperable due to infrastructure collapse.
One rescuer recalled entering a goldsmith’s shop, where 17 people were still believed to be trapped. “We can only find those we can hear,” he said solemnly.
Voices from Afar and a Call for Help
Myanmar’s military junta, which seized power in 2021, made a rare plea for international aid, declaring a state of emergency across six regions. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing urged humanitarian agencies to assist urgently.
Yet aid organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) report difficulties accessing quake-struck zones due to damaged roads and ongoing conflict. “The situation is chaotic,” said MSF Myanmar chief Federica Franco. “We’re dealing with communication blackouts and impassable roads.”
The emotional toll is spreading beyond Myanmar’s borders. Shin Thant Sanar, a Myanmar student in the UK, described a tearful phone call from her mother. “My aunt lost everything,” she said. “Buildings I grew up around are now unrecognizable.”
An English teacher in Yangon described the terror of the quake from the perspective of his young students. “They were terrified. With power cuts and no internet, we feel completely out of control.”
Tremors Felt Across Borders
The quake’s impact stretched beyond Myanmar, with tremors felt in Thailand and China. In Bangkok, buildings swayed violently, and a high-rise under construction collapsed, prompting emergency evacuations.
This disaster strikes amid an ongoing internal conflict and widespread restrictions on the press, making it difficult to grasp the full extent of the tragedy.
For now, survivors continue to cry out from beneath rubble. Rescue workers keep digging. And Myanmar waits—hoping the world is listening
