Myanmar: Public Health Situation Analysis (Sagaing earthquake in Myanmar, April 2025)

Overview

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, followed by a second of magnitude 6.4 at 13:02 (local time).  The full scale of damage, deaths and injuries has not yet been fully ascertained. On 2 April 2025, the State Administration Council (SAC) reported that 3003 people have died and 4515 have been injured by the earthquake. Preliminary assessments indicate high numbers of casualties and trauma-related injuries, with urgent need for emergency care. Earthquake-related displacement, limited access to safe water and food, overcrowded displaced populations, low vaccination coverage, poor sanitation, inadequate disease prevention measures and potential movement of rodents into urban areas increases the likelihood of disease outbreaks. Mental health challenges and heat strokes are also major concern.