Summary Report on the Emergency Situation of the Myanmar Earthquake

Key Chapter Title List

1. Funding Investigation
2. Nature of the Emergency
3. Impact and Scale of the Emergency
4. Local and National Response Capacity
5. Critical Needs and Gaps
6. Forum Capacity and Member Response Intentions
7. Potential Response Measures

Document Introduction

On March 28, 2025, Myanmar was struck by a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock. This earthquake is the strongest seismic event in the country's history, with its impact extending to neighboring countries such as China and Thailand, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis. This report serves as an ACT Alliance Emergency Alert Statement, systematically organizing core information related to the earthquake, impact assessments, and response progress to provide decision-making references for the international community and relief agencies.

The report first clarifies the core background of the emergency: the powerful earthquake caused building damage in many parts of Myanmar, and the collapse of an apartment building in Bangkok trapped hundreds of construction workers, with rescue operations continuing throughout the night. Combined with Myanmar's current complex security situation and ongoing conflicts, the earthquake has further exacerbated the country's overall crisis. According to data from the United Nations, the Myanmar government, and the U.S. Geological Survey, official figures confirm at least 1,600 fatalities with a large number of injuries, while U.S. estimates suggest the death toll may exceed 10,000. Mandalay Region, one of the most severely affected areas, has approximately 1.2 million people facing survival threats.

Regarding the impact dimensions, the report details the earthquake's impact on multiple sectors: medical facilities are overwhelmed, with some hospitals unable to properly receive casualties due to structural damage; transportation infrastructure is severely damaged, with roads, bridges, and key transport routes disrupted, seriously hindering rescue and supply delivery; power, water supply, and communication networks are damaged, leaving multiple areas in an information blackout and complicating coordination efforts. News of a dam breach near Mandalay further exposes low-lying areas to the risk of secondary disasters.

Concerning response capacity, the report notes that the Myanmar government has declared a state of emergency in six central states and regions and requested international assistance. Countries including China and India have dispatched rescue and medical teams. Relevant UN agencies and the European Union are also providing assistance through financial support, satellite monitoring, and other means. ACT Alliance members Christian Aid and Finn Church Aid have conducted on-the-ground needs assessments and initiated emergency responses.

The report concludes by identifying current critical needs and potential response directions: emergency medical care, shelter construction, and food and drinking water supply are the core needs. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women require prioritized assistance, and psychosocial support services urgently need improvement. Future responses need to strengthen coordination mechanisms, deploy additional medical and search-and-rescue teams, focus on heavily affected areas for material distribution and infrastructure repair, and enhance information transparency to prevent panic and the spread of misinformation.