March 29, 2025 | Updated 18:30 GMT
A catastrophic 7.1-magnitude earthquake has devastated central Myanmar, with the death toll surpassing 1,000 and thousands more injured or missing. The quake - the deadliest in Myanmar since 2012 - struck near the ancient city of Bagan early Friday morning, reducing temples to rubble and triggering landslides that buried entire villages.
Key Developments
1. Rising Casualties
- 1,023 confirmed dead across Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing regions
- 3,400+ injured, overwhelming local hospitals
- 200+ still missing, mostly in remote mining areas
2. Historic Destruction
- 37 ancient pagodas collapsed in Bagan's UNESCO World Heritage site
- 15,000 buildings destroyed, including schools and monasteries
- Chindwin River bridges severed, isolating western regions
3. Rescue Challenges
- Military helicopters struggling to reach cut-off villages
- Monsoon rains hampering search efforts
- Survivors digging through rubble with bare hands
International Response
- UN deploying 200 emergency specialists
- India/China sending field hospitals and sniffer dogs
- ASEAN coordinating regional relief flights
Why This Quake Was So Deadly
1. Shallow epicenter (just 10km deep)
2. Poor construction standards in rural areas
3. Multiple aftershocks up to 5.8 magnitude
"This is our darkest hour since Cyclone Nargis," said relief worker Khin Maung, referencing Myanmar's 2008 disaster that killed 138,000.
DW Report
