UN reports 3,726 dead following devastating earthquake in Myanmar

On April 19, 2025, Myanmar experienced a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, with the epicenter located near Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. This devastating event struck nearly three weeks prior and was reported to have resulted in significant destruction across six regions, including the capital Naypyitaw. The disaster exacerbated the already severe humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where over 20 million individuals were in need of assistance due to ongoing civil conflict that displaced more than three million people. According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the aftermath of the quake has been marked by regular aftershocks, increasing anxiety among residents while complicating the recovery efforts. It also indicated that basic services still hadn't been restored in the worst-hit areas. The official death toll from the earthquake, as reported by the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper, reached 3,726, with 5,105 injuries and 129 individuals still unaccounted for. Emergency response teams, which included nearly 2,000 international and local medical and rescue workers from 25 countries, had collaboratively rescued 653 survivors and retrieved 753 bodies from the rubble. The earthquake caused extensive damage, including the destruction of over 65,000 buildings, more than 2,500 schools, 350 medical facilities, and significant infrastructure, such as bridges and highways. The Myanmar Fire Services Department has publicly stated its ongoing efforts in clearing debris and aiding individuals affected by the quake. As the weeks passed following the quake, the number of active rescue teams dwindled, with many international crews returning home after their mission to find survivors was deemed complete. Local rescue workers have since focused their efforts on clearing rubble and providing assistance to the survivors. The United Nations Development Program emphasized the scale of the debris that must be cleared, estimating nearly 2.5 million tons of debris needing removal, equivalent to 125,000 truckloads. The impact of the earthquake has raised substantial concerns regarding the long-term recovery of the affected regions. In response to the crisis, local authorities, including Myanmar's military government under Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, are considering redesigning the urban layout of Naypyitaw to better address the aftermath of the earthquake, aiming to revamp the capital’s infrastructure amidst an ongoing humanitarian disaster. The increasing urgency for rebuilding efforts resonates as regional residents strive to restore a sense of normalcy in their lives while grappling with the lingering aftermath of the quake and the persistent threat of occurring aftershocks.