The death toll from the March 28 earthquake that struck Naypyidaw and Pyinmana Township has risen to over 230 as government ministry buildings and staff housing collapsed, according to civil service sources. More than 200 deaths were reported in staff housing areas in Naypyidaw, while over 30 deaths occurred in Pyinmana Township. Many injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment.
The collapse of the Ministry of Labor building resulted in the death of Permanent Secretary and former Lieutenant Colonel Nyunt Win, while numerous staff members from the ministry sustained injuries. Officials and staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also injured, and there were significant casualties and injuries reported across other ministry buildings.
Currently, civil servants and their family members in Naypyidaw are forced to sleep on the streets with mats, as most staff housing buildings have been rendered uninhabitable. The majority of buildings have either collapsed, are leaning dangerously, or have severe wall cracks, forcing staff members to risk entering the damaged structures only to retrieve essential items. They can only briefly enter the buildings to use toilets, and civil servants report that even returning to work next Monday will be challenging due to the extensive damage to government facilities.
