End of Mission Report United Nations Disaster Assessment & Coordination (UNDAC) - Earthquake 7.7M Response - Myanmar

1. Background Information on the emergency

1.1.Description of disaster

On 28 March at approximately 12:50 PM local time, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck central Myanmar, with its epicentre located near the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The earthquake was widely felt across Myanmar and neighbouring regions. A second earthquake, measuring 6.4 in magnitude, hit further south just minutes later.

The earthquakes caused extensive destruction, with widespread damage to homes and essential infrastructure - in areas where over 17 million people live. Most of the fatalities occurred in the Mandalay area. In response, the State Administration Council (SAC) declared a state of emergency in the Bago and Mandalay Regions, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, Sagaing Region, and parts of Shan State, appealing for international aid. Early assessments showed that Mandalay International Airport had been severely damaged, leading to the suspension of commercial flights. Key infrastructure such as bridges, roads, universities, hotels, heritage and religious sites, and public buildings in both urban and rural locations had been either heavily damaged or destroyed. Thousands of people at that point were sheltering in open areas or streets due to the loss of their homes or fear of aftershocks.

Utility systems and communication networks had been significantly affected. Electricity and water supply had been disrupted, even in the Yangon Region. Landline, mobile, and internet services were unstable. Damage to the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay expressway had caused serious travel disruptions, with cracks and surface deformities halting bus services. As the extent of the disaster became clearer, it revealed the urgent need for humanitarian aid to assist those impacted.

Over 6.3 million people required immediate assistance and protection due to the earthquakes’ impact, including 4.7 million people who were already in need and an additional 2 million newly affected. As of 6 April, ten days after the disaster, official reports stated that at least 34,500 people had lost their lives, more than 455,000 had been injured, and over 200 remained missing. However, the actual numbers were likely significantly higher due to communication outages and limited reporting, which hindered a complete understanding of the disaster’s impact.