On 28 March 2025, two powerful earthquakes struck central Myanmar’s Sagaing Region near Mandalay. The first, with a magnitude of 7.7, occurred at 12:50 p.m. local time, followed by a second of magnitude 6.4 at 1:02 p.m. Multiple aftershocks have since been reported, disrupting ongoing rescue operations. As of 30 March 2025, the State Administration in Myanmar have reported 1644 deaths and 3408 injuries. Critical infrastructure including health facilities, roads, bridges and communication networks infrastructure has been severely damaged, with three hospitals in Nay Pyi Taw and Bago fully damaged. Preliminary assessments indicate high numbers of casualties and trauma-related injuries, with an urgent need for emergency care.
WHO South-East Asia has activated an Incident Management Support Team (IMST) and is working in close coordination with the WHO Country Office in Myanmar, WHO headquarters, and health partners. Aligned with WHO’s Emergency Response Framework, an organization-wide response has been launched, with incident management teams mobilized across all three levels of WHO. US$ 5 million has been released from WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies to rapidly scale-up operations and support lifesaving health interventions. Within 24 hours of the disaster, WHO dispatched nearly three tons of trauma kits, medical supplies, and multipurpose tents from its emergency stockpile in Yangon to hospitals in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Additional critical medical supplies are prepositioned and ready for dispatch from WHO’s Dubai Logistics Hub. A flash-appeal has been released for US$ 8 million to deliver critical trauma care, prevent disease outbreaks, and restore essential health services over the next 30 days.
WHO is issuing Situation Reports and disseminating key public health advice in the aftermath of the earthquake through various communication channels.