OCHA Myanmar: Earthquake Response Situation Report No. 1

This Situation Report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with the operating humanitarian clusters and their sub-working groups in Myanmar. The humanitarian response section is not necessarily reflective of all humanitarian interventions undertaken on the ground but rather those voluntarily reported by partners.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ten days after the disastrous earthquakes that hit Myanmar on 28 March, the human toll continues to increase. Over 3,500 people died, nearly 5,000 have been injured, and over 200 remain missing nationwide, according to publicly available figures.
• It is estimated that over 17.2 million people are living in affected areas, with over 9.1 million exposed to the strongest tremors across 58 of the country’s 330 townships. Urgent needs include food, drinking water, healthcare, cash assistance and emergency shelter.
• Entire communities have been upended, forcing people to seek shelter in makeshift conditions, disrupting markets, worsening psychosocial distress and bringing essential services—including running water, sanitation and health—to the verge of collapse.
• People left homeless by the earthquakes are exposed to extreme heat during the country’s hottest and driest month of the year, and rains have already started in Mandalay – posing an additional threat to those sheltering in the open.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On 28 March, two consecutive earthquakes – measuring 7.7 and 6.4 in magnitude – struck central Myanmar, with epicentres near Mandalay and Sagaing cities at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The tremors were felt nationwide and beyond. Mandalay Region, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, Sagaing Region, and southern Shan State were severely affected, and to a lesser extent, Bago Region, Magway Region and eastern Shan State. It is estimated that over 17.2 million people across 58 of the country’s 330 townships have been affected, with over 9.1 million exposed to the strongest tremors.

According to publicly available figures, over 3,500 people died, nearly 5,000 have been injured and over 200 remain missing nationwide. Rescue teams continue recovery efforts to find anyone who remains in the rubble. The response is now shifting to relief and early recovery, as thousands remain displaced and struggle to meet their most basic needs. Communities in the worst-affected areas continue to grapple with widespread destruction of homes, health facilities and critical infrastructure; prolonged power and water outages; severely limited telecommunications; and damaged or obstructed transport routes. People left homeless by the earthquakes are exposed to extreme heat during the country’s hottest and driest month of the year, while the looming monsoon season poses an additional threat to those sheltering in the open. Rainfall on 5 April in Mandalay and Sagaing has impacted rescue and response efforts and worsened the living conditions of people who lost their homes. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that rain and strong winds are likely to occur across many states and regions until 11 April.

Initial rapid needs assessments covering 588,000 people across 31 townships in seven states and regions, including Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, have identified people’s urgent priorities: food, drinking water, health care, cash assistance and emergency shelter. Among those assessed, 47 per cent have yet to receive any form of assistance.

Prior to the earthquakes, people in Myanmar were already facing an alarming humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 19.9 million people in need of assistance. The crisis is fuelled by ongoing conflict, displacement, economic hardship and other disasters—including flooding in September 2024 that impacted more than 1 million people. Before the earthquakes struck Myanmar, it was estimated that more than 3.5 million people had been forced to flee their homes, over 15 million were already facing hunger and protection concerns were mounting. The impact of the earthquakes will only intensify these already severe needs, putting more and more lives at risk.