Myanmar’s military rulers asked the world for help on Friday, March 28, 2025, after a huge 7.7 magnitude earthquake smashed the country’s center, killing at least 144 people and hurting 732. The quake hit near Mandalay at noon, wrecking buildings, roads, and lives. It’s not something the junta—usually shut off from outsiders—does often, and it shows how bad things are.
The ground shook hard, just 10 kilometers deep, near Sagaing, 16 kilometers from Mandalay. By night, military leader Min Aung Hlaing said 96 died in Naypyidaw, 18 in Sagaing, and 30 in Mandalay, with more expected. Historic spots like Mandalay Palace and Shwe Sar Yan Pagoda fell apart, and a fire burned at Mandalay University. A rescuer told the BBC hundreds might be dead, digging with bare hands in villages like Bone Oe, where over 100 are gone.
The junta, which grabbed power in 2021, put six regions—Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Shan, and Naypyidaw—under emergency rules. Roads cracked, bridges fell, and power went out, making it tough to know the full damage. Zaw Min Tun, a junta spokesman, spoke at a hospital in Naypyidaw to AFP reporters. “We want humanitarian aid fast,” he said, a big change for a group that keeps the world away.
Myanmar’s already a mess. Over 3.5 million people are homeless from a civil war, fighting the military since the coup. The UN’s Diogo Alcantara, based in Yangon, said 1.6 million displaced live near the quake zone. “This will make their hard lives worse,” he told the BBC. Food, shelter, and medicine were short before—now it’s a crisis. The Red Cross said power and phone lines are down in Mandalay and Sagaing, slowing help.
Aid groups want to move, but it’s tricky. The junta bans most outside news and limits help, especially in rebel areas like Sagaing, a war hotspot. Amnesty’s Joe Freeman said they’ve blocked aid before. “This quake couldn’t come at a worse time,” he told the BBC, pointing to airstrikes and battles already hurting people. The UN’s refugee team is ready with tents and supplies, but needs safe roads to Mandalay.
Not everyone trusts the junta with aid. The opposition, the National Unity Government (NUG), begged the world on Facebook to send help through them instead. “Use local groups, not the military,” spokesperson Sasa wrote, asking for water, shelter, and doctors. They worry the junta will keep it for themselves, not the people.
The quake didn’t stop at Myanmar. In Thailand, seven died when a Bangkok tower fell, and tremors hit China and India. But here, it’s a double blow—war and now nature. One aid worker in Yangon, hiding her name from the military, told the BBC they sneak help past rules. “We can’t get noticed, or we’re caught,” she said. The junta’s call might open doors, but millions need it now—and fast.