On 28 March 2025, at 12:50 pm, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, with its epicentre located approximately 34 kilometres north of Sagaing. The International General President immediately contacted Veronica Ei Mon Myint Maung, SSVP Youth President in Myanmar, who has sent us this report.
The earthquake has severely impacted several major cities, including Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Bago, Magway, and parts of Shan State, leaving widespread devastation. Public infrastructure and essential services such as hospitals, schools, places of worship, airports, roads, and communication networks have suffered extensive damage. The tremors were also felt in neighbouring countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and India.
Initial figures, updated as of midday on 29 March, are alarming: more than 1,002 fatalities, 2,376 injuries, and 30 people reported missing. As rescue operations progress, the scale of the tragedy becomes increasingly evident. At the time of publication, official sources report more than 1,600 fatalities.
Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes and spend nights on the streets, fearing aftershocks. A state of emergency has been declared in multiple regions, and many areas remain isolated due to disrupted communication and transport routes.
In response to this emergency, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Myanmar has activated its response plan. The National Youth Committee, in coordination with other humanitarian organisations in Myanmar, is working to provide urgent humanitarian aid and gather detailed information on critical needs.
The Youth Coordinator has travelled to Mandalay, one of the most severely affected areas, to conduct an on-the-ground assessment. Power outages, telecommunications disruptions, flight cancellations, and road collapses, however, are significantly hindering relief efforts.
The most urgent needs identified include medicines, emergency shelters, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services, essential for thousands of displaced people lacking minimal safety conditions.
Given this grave situation, the General Council urges the National Councils of SSVP capable of providing assistance to initiate solidarity support campaigns. Any assistance, however modest, will be a source of relief for those who have lost everything. We also ask our Vincentian members, friends, and partners worldwide to unite in prayer for the victims, the injured, and our sisters and brothers enduring the harsh consequences of this natural disaster in Myanmar.
Source: https://www.ssvpglobal.org/
Our prayers to the people of Myanmar. May the good Lord comfort and strengthen them in the situation they find themselves in! Thanks for sharing!
God bless all Vincentians!