Chicago – March 29, 2025
Myanmar’s military government has allowed hundreds of foreign rescue workers into the country after a powerful earthquake killed over 1,600 people, making it the deadliest disaster in the nation in years. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck on Friday, damaging airports, bridges, and highways, and worsening the country’s ongoing civil war. The earthquake also affected neighboring Thailand, where it caused buildings to shake and brought down a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, killing at least nine people.
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, survivors worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped under the rubble, despite lacking heavy equipment and support from authorities. The U.S. Geological Service predicted that the death toll in Myanmar could rise above 10,000, with damages exceeding the nation’s annual economic output.
On Saturday, Myanmar’s leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, visited Mandalay to oversee the rescue efforts and ensure urgent needs were addressed. He called for international help, and the government has expedited search and rescue operations to find survivors. The situation remains dire as both countries continue to deal with the aftermath of this devastating earthquake.
