The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding to the aftermath of a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time. The earthquake’s epicenter was located near the city of Sagaing, in central Myanmar, affecting multiple regions, including Mandalay, Naypitaw, Sagaing, Magway, and southern Shan. Since the initial quake, at least 40 aftershocks of varying magnitudes have rocked the region.
ADRA’s emergency response professionals and volunteers are already on the ground, working quickly to aid communities affected by the devastation, which covers about 600 kilometers (373 miles). Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in six provinces impacted by the disaster. According to local officials, the death toll could climb to 10,000 as rescuers continue to comb through the rubble.
At least 2,065 people have died, more than 3,900 others have been injured, and hundreds remain missing. Many of the injured are waiting for treatment in packed hospitals or public areas; as many as 22 medical facilities have been severely damaged and three destroyed.
“Health facilities lack medical supplies, even the space to provide the treatment. There have been reports that they must turn the injured away without providing treatment. The inflated market prices are further creating food insecurity. The sanitation facilities and wells were damaged with contaminated water, and that is also leading to the scarcity of drinking water,” explains Manish Thapa, ADRA’s Emergency Response coordinator.
This powerful quake, the strongest to strike the region in more than 100 years, displaced countless families, with parents desperately searching for missing children among the wreckage.
Thousands of buildings were affected by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake. [Photo: ADRA International] Thousands are reported dead, injured, or missing in the affected areas. [Photo: ADRA International] ADRA’s rapid-response teams are collaborating with the Adventist Church, local governments, and other partner humanitarian agencies in the region. [Photo: ADRA International]
“There is a major concern in terms of protection. Families are staying in open, unmanaged spaces or have to share the same tent or shelter. At-risk groups, such as children, girls, and elderly individuals, are at increased risk,” adds Thapa.
Tremors were also felt in neighboring nations, including Thailand, where a building under construction collapsed, killing at least 19 people and burying scores more beneath the rubble. Following the earthquake and aftershocks, authorities declared the Thai capital an emergency zone, closing schools and evacuating residents from high-rise buildings.
ADRA’s rapid-response teams are collaborating with the Adventist Church, local governments, and other partner humanitarian agencies in the region to expedite relief efforts. However, challenges such as power outages, gasoline shortages, ruined roads, and difficulties accessing areas already impacted by Myanmar’s ongoing civil strife are hindering aid activities. According to the United Nations, the violence had already displaced more than 3 million people, with an additional 12 million requiring humanitarian assistance even before the disaster struck.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by this earthquake,” ADRA International’s director of Emergency Management, Mario Oliveira, stated. “Our response teams are closely monitoring the situation and traveling to affected communities to establish the best strategy for our relief operations. We have reports of numerous road closures, as well as collapsed buildings and bridges, which could impede access to damaged areas and delay relief efforts. Despite these limitations, ADRA remains dedicated to ensuring that crucial assistance reaches those in greatest need. Please keep Myanmar and other afflicted countries in your thoughts and prayers.”
The original version of this release was posted by ADRA International.