The current situation in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, is one of significant destruction and disruption following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025. The epicenter was located near Mandalay, causing widespread damage and panic in the city.
Key Developments:
- Structural Damage: Eyewitness accounts and social media posts have shown collapsed buildings, including parts of the historic Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the country’s most sacred Buddhist sites. The Wailuwun monastery also suffered significant damage, resulting in casualties.
- Infrastructure Impact: The earthquake affected major infrastructure, such as the Mandalay-Yangon highway, where parts were damaged, and a 90-year-old bridge in the Sagaing region collapsed.
- Emergency Response: An emergency situation was declared in Mandalay, along with other regions, as the government initiated search operations and assessed the extent of the damage.
- Humanitarian Crisis: The junta has declared a state of emergency across six regions and made a rare appeal for international humanitarian aid to assist in relief efforts4.
Overall, Mandalay is facing a challenging situation with ongoing rescue efforts and a need for international support to address the aftermath of the earthquake.
