The earthquake that struck Naypyidaw on March 28 caused extensive damage to numerous government buildings, including the Presidential Palace, military offices, and the Ministry of Defense. Due to this destruction, military council leaders and ministers have been forced to conduct meetings in temporary locations. Notably, military council vice-leader Soe Win has been holding meetings under a green tarpaulin-covered structure, while military council leader Min Aung Hlaing has been relegated to conducting meetings in a small reception room.
On March 29, Soe Win chaired the National Natural Disaster Management Committee meeting in what was claimed to be the Social Services, Rescue and Resettlement Office conference room, but was actually held in a space covered by green tarpaulins. The following day, on March 30, Min Aung Hlaing held a special meeting regarding relief and rehabilitation efforts for earthquake-affected areas in what was described as the Defense Services Commander-in-Chief’s Office guest hall, but was in reality just a small reception room.
Additionally, during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ special emergency video conference on March 30, the military council’s Foreign Minister Than Swe had to participate from outside the damaged Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, with the damaged structure visible in the background. The earthquake also rendered staff housing quarters in Naypyidaw uninhabitable due to severe structural damage. According to military sources in Naypyidaw, the military council is prioritizing the clearing of debris and urgently working to repair departmental offices, military facilities, and their residences. They are reportedly conducting these restoration efforts with intense urgency to restore functionality to these critical facilities.
