Myanmar earthquake death toll jumps to over 1,600 – DW (English)

March 29, 2025

Control tower at Myanmar airport collapse

Satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC, analyzed by The Associated Press news agency, show that the earthquake toppled the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport.

The photos taken Saturday show the tower toppled over as if sheered from its base. Debris lay scattered from the top of the tower, which controlled all air traffic in the capital of Myanmar.

It wasn’t immediately clear if there had been any injuries and deaths in the collapse, though the tower is likely to have had staff inside of it at the time of the earthquake Friday.

Flights carrying rescue teams from China have landed at the airport in Yangon instead of going directly to the airports in the major stricken cities of Mandalay and Naypyitaw.

March 29, 2025

Death toll passes 1,600, as search for survivors continues

At least 1,644 people have been killed and more than 3,400 injured in Myanmar following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the country and Thailand on Friday.

At least 139 more were missing, Myanmar’s junta said in a statement.  

The quake destroyed buildings, downed bridges, and buckled roads across swathes of Myanmar, with massive destruction seen in Mandalay, the country’s second biggest city and home to more than 1.7 million people.

In Mandalay, AFP journalists saw rescuers pull a woman alive from the remains of one apartment block where a Red Cross official said more than 90 people could be trapped. 

Half of the 12 storeys of the Sky Villa Condominium were flattened by the quake, as Phyu Lay Khaing, 30, was brought out and carried by stretcher to be embraced by her husband and taken to hospital.

March 29, 2025

Indian relief supplies arrive in Myanmar

Indian aid flights landed in Myanmar on Saturday, New Delhi’s Foreign Ministry said.

It followed a powerful 7.7-magnitude that caused widespread damage in India’s civil war-ravaged neighbour. 

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing issued an exceptionally rare appeal for international aid, indicating the severity with over 1,000 people having been killed and more than 2,000 others injured.

Previous military regimes in the country have shunned foreign assistance even after major natural disasters.

Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said a C-130 military transport plane had been dispatched carrying hygiene kits, blankets, food parcels and other essentials.

“A search and rescue team and medical team is also accompanying this flight,” he added. “We will continue to monitor the developments and more aid will follow.”

Two more Indian Air Force aircraft were also to be sent on Saturday carrying “80 search and rescue specialists” and a canine squad alongside more relief material, ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said.

More aircraft carrying a field hospital and medical personnel and two Indian navy ships carrying more relief assistance material and personnel were also deployed. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken with Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar to give his “deep condolences at the loss of lives” in the earthquake.

“As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour,” he wrote on X.

March 29, 2025

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Myanmar’s military rulers said the death climbed to 1,644 people and the number of people injured to more than 3,400.

International rescue teams have arrived to help the country, after rulers appealed for outside help in a rare move.

But the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport, which serves the capital city, has collapsed, meaning international flights cannot use runways there.

March 29, 2025

Beijing pledges millions of dollars in aid for Myanmar

China will provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan ($13.77 million, €12.73 million) worth of emergency humanitarian aid, Chinese authorities announced on Saturday.

The sum will go toward earthquake relief efforts, including tents, blankets, emergency medical kits, food and water, as well as other essential items, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar said on its Facebook page.

The first batch is due to arrive on March 31.

March 29, 2025

How is the already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar hindering rescue?

Myanmar is already suffering from a massive humanitarian crisis amid an ongoing civil war since the 2021 military coup that  overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since then, the military has been involved in fighting with long-established militias and newly formed pro-democracy ones.

Even after Friday’s devastating earthquakes, military forces reportedly continued their attacks, including on the border of the badly hit Mandalay state. The Reuters news agency interviewed residents in the state who said they had yet to receive any aid from the military.

Dave Aubank, a humanitarian worker, told The Associated Press news agency the area where he was operating has been mostly destroyed by the military, with the earthquake causing little impact. Aubank is the founder of the Free Burma Rangers aid organization, which has provided aid to both combatants and civilians in the country since 1990s.

With much of the country no longer under government control, many regions are dangerous for aid groups to reach, while others are simply inaccessible.

The fighting has displaced over 3 million people, with some 20 million in need, according to United Nations figures.

“The powerful earthquake hit the country at the worst possible time,” Reuters quoted Sheela Matthew, deputy country director for the World Food Program, as saying. “Myanmar just can’t afford another disaster.”

The National Unity Government, the parallel civilian government that oversees some pro-democracy forces, told Reuters it would deploy anti-junta forces to aid with relief efforts.

Rights activists are worried that even aid provided by other countries would not reach people on the ground. Authorities have, in the past, blocked relief to parts of the country under opposition control. 

“The junta’s response to Cyclone Mocha and Typhoon Yagi demonstrate its willingness to weaponize aid in the midst of natural disasters,” UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Thomas Andrews said. He urged teaming up with the National Unity Government, ethnic organizations and civil society groups to reach those in need.

March 29, 2025

Thai rescuers detect signs of life in collapsed skyscraper

Rescue teams attempting to save those trapped under the rubble of a Bangkok high-rise building that collapsed on Friday due to the earthquake are detecting signs of life, Thai media reported on Saturday.

About 15 people trapped under the debris of the 30-story skyscraper showed signs of life on Saturday, Thai PBS cited Suriyachai Rawiwan, the director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, as saying.

The signs suggest they are in groups of three to seven people, Suriyachai said. He added that rescue teams were trying to provide them with food and water.

“The difficulty is that some of them are trapped about three meters deep. We have about 72 hours to help them, because that is the approximate length of time a person can survive without water and food,” Suriyachai said.

It is still unclear exactly how many people are trapped under the rubble, with estimates ranging from 47 to 100.

Rescue operations resumed on Saturday morning, with Thai authorities announcing that “the area remains restricted due to safety risks posed by unstable debris.”

March 29, 2025

Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc offers support in relief efforts

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday offered its support to Myanmar and Thailand in helping with rescue efforts in the aftermath of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake. 

“ASEAN reaffirms its solidarity with the families and communities affected by the earthquake and its impact,” a statement on the bloc’s website read.

ASEAN vowed to work closely with the affected countries to coordinate humanitarian assistance, support and facilitate relief operations.

March 29, 2025

Major Thai airports safe for use, operator says

The Thai airports operator has confirmed that six airports in Thailand are safe to use following the major earthquake which hit the country on Friday.

Operations at airports including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Chiang Rai and Phuket were back to normal, Airports of Thailand said. 

They had all undergone safety inspections and their buildings’ structural integrity was confirmed. Airports of Thailand stressed aviation infrastructure at all six airports met safety standards.

March 29, 2025

Myanmar struggles with rescue efforts under challenging circumstances

Already in turmoil due to a bloody civil war since a 2021 coup, Myanmar has struggled with the rescue operation, where an ongoing massive humanitarian crisis has made movement around the country dangerous and difficult.

In the second city of Mandalay, near the earthquake’s epicenter, massive destruction was visible, but badly needed aid was slowed down due to the damage caused to the airport, where guards turned journalists away.

“It has been closed since yesterday,” the French AFP news agency quoted one guard as saying. “The ceiling collapsed but no one was hurt.”

The ruling military junta, which has been slow to accept foreign aid, appealed for support on Friday, with leader Min Aung Hlaing saying the country was ready to accept assistance.

The call was thus far heeded by several countries.

Early on Saturday, a Chinese  team arrived in the city of Yangon with earthquake detectors, drones and other supplies, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry sent some 120 rescuers and supplies on board two planes, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported.

India also sent a search and rescue team and a medical team, as well as hygiene kits, blankets, food parcels and other essentials.

The United Nations earmarked $5 million (roughly €4.62 million) to start relief efforts, whereas US President Donald Trump promised US support.

March 29, 2025

China’s Xi sends condolences to Myanmar junta chief after quake: state media

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his condolences to Myanmar’s junta chief on Saturday after a deadly earthquake on Friday killed at least 1,000 people.

Xi “expressed deep sorrow” over the destruction and said China was “willing to provide Myanmar the needed assistance to support people in affected areas” in his message of condolence to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

China on Saturday sent an 82-person team of rescuers to Myanmar, according to its emergency management ministry, after Min Aung Hlaing appealed for international aid.

Additionally, China also sent another team to Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon on Saturday, CCTV reported.

March 29, 2025

Myanmar death toll surpasses 1,000, junta says

Rana Taha | Sean Sinico

The death toll from the major earthquake which struck Myanmar on Friday has jumped to over 1,000 on Saturday, the ruling junta in the country said.

The junta’s information team said 1,002 are known to have died. Some 2,376 more were injured, the junta added.

March 29, 2025

Indonesia offers help to Myanmar, Thailand

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has sent condolences to Myanmar and Thailand, offering help.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of both countries during this difficult time,” he wrote on X.

“Indonesia stands ready to provide all necessary support for recovery efforts in the affected areas.”

March 29, 2025

India sends aid flight to quake-hit Myanmar

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said New Delhi had dispatched a humanitarian aid flight to Myanmar carrying hygiene kits, blankets, food parcels and other essentials.

“A search and rescue team and medical team is also accompanying this flight,” he said. “We will continue to monitor the developments and more aid will follow.”

The minister shared photographs on social media showing members of India’s national disaster response agency loading supplies onto the plane.

March 29, 2025

Myanmar junta says at least 694 dead, 1,670 injured

Myanmar authorities said the death toll from Friday’s massive earthquake in the country has jumped to 694, adding 1,670 people were injured. 

The powerful 7.7-magnitude quake destroyed buildings, downed bridges, and buckled roads across swathes of Myanmar.

It was the biggest quake to hit the Southeast Asian nation in over a century, according to US geologists.

The tremors were powerful enough to severely damage buildings across Bangkok, hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter.