A powerful earthquake that struck on March 28 has caused widespread destruction and casualties across multiple regions including Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyidaw. Rescue operations are still ongoing to extract people trapped inside collapsed buildings. While the military council leader Min Aung Hlaing announced that there were 144 deaths and 1,464 injuries, ground reports suggest that the casualty numbers are likely to increase as more information becomes available from affected areas.
At Naypyidaw Airport, the air traffic control tower collapsed, resulting in the death of all five staff members who were on duty at the time, according to military sources in Naypyidaw. Additionally, numerous government buildings in Naypyidaw, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor, and military offices, have suffered severe damage. Several government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and some foreign affairs officials, are among those who lost their lives in the disaster.
The earthquake’s impact has been most severe in Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Sagaing regions, where hospitals, schools, markets, and numerous residential buildings have been destroyed. Local residents, firefighters, and rescue teams are working tirelessly to conduct rescue operations, though they face significant challenges in extracting people trapped under collapsed structures. The extensive damage to infrastructure and continuing aftershocks have complicated rescue efforts, as teams work to reach those still trapped beneath the rubble.
