In brief
In the wake of a powerful earthquake that struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, on Friday, March 28, 2025, volunteer rescue workers are urgently searching for survivors among the debris. With entire buildings, including the historic Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, reduced to rubble, hundreds remain unaccounted for in a region already besieged by military oppression and ongoing conflict.
On the ground, volunteers, including those who have traveled from other cities, work tirelessly despite challenges such as downed power lines and obstructed roadways. “There are at least a hundred people still trapped inside,” Thaw Zin, one of the volunteers, shared as he paced anxiously in front of a devastated condominium block. The earthquake, recorded at 12:50 p.m. local time, is noted as one of the most significant seismic events in Myanmar in a century, prompting the military junta to declare a state of emergency across several affected areas. Many of these regions are under rebel control, complicating rescue efforts due to limited access and communication.Among the survivors, Su Wai Lin recounted her harrowing experience of escaping the quake with her family, only for her husband to rush back into their building to assist a 90-year-old neighbor. The heartbreaking stories continue to emerge as rescue teams push forward, holding onto hope amidst the growing despair. As efforts continue to locate and assist those trapped, the challenges posed by the country's military regime and civil unrest linger just beneath the surface of this natural disaster.
