At least 1700 people have died after a catastrophic magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025. Catholic aid agency Caritas says Myanmar is already facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to a civil war in the country, which is controlled by a miltary junta.
The earthquake has exacerbated these challenges, putting additional strain on the country’s resources and response capabilities.
The hospital in the central Burmese city of Mandalay, close to the epicentre, rapidly filled to capacity in the hours after the quake. The main hospital in the capital Naypidaw, about 280 kilometres to the south, is now a mass casualty area.
A state of emergency has also been declared in Bangkok, in neighbouring Thailand, where the earthquake has also had an impact. Buildings have collapsed and 18 have people been killed. Rescue efforts are continuing there.
Affected populations will need basics quickly—water, food, shelter, medicine, clean clothes and blankets—as they focus on finding their loved ones and keeping their families safe.
Caritas Australia has launched an appeal for earthquake victims through its partners in Myanmar. It says its partners are assessing the situation and preparing a response to the humanitarian requirements, which are likely to include the provision of emergency shelter, food and other essentials, as well as psychosocial support.
Caritas says all staff in its partner organisations in Myanmar are safe, but some staff houses in Mandalay have collapsed. The Mandalay Diocese reported that many people are still missing in Mandalay town and people cannot contact their family due to communications being down.
‘In the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, we tend to see emergency services battling against destroyed infrastructure and struggling to move tons of rubble to save lives,’ Caritas Australia’s humanitarian manager Sally Thomas said. ‘Roads may be blocked and hospitals may be damaged, all of which hampers recovery efforts. We have also had limited contact with those on the ground due to infrastructure damage.’
‘Affected populations will also start to need basics quickly—water, food, shelter, medicine, clean clothes and blankets—as they focus on finding their loved ones and keeping their families safe.’
To support Caritas Australia’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal, visit www.caritas.org.au/myanmar or call 1800 024 413 toll free.
Banner photo: Commuters drive past a destroyed building on 30 March 2025, following a strong earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. (Photo: OSV News/Reuters.)
