Myanmar Earthquake Kills Over 700 Muslims During Ramadan Prayers
- paolo bibat
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
A catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, during midday prayers in the holy month of Ramadan, killing over 700 Muslims and leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
The epicenter was near Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, and the quake caused extensive damage to infrastructure and religious sites across the region.
Tun Kyi, a member of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network, reported that at least 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed during the quake.
Many of these structures were older buildings, more vulnerable to seismic activity. Videos shared online showed mosques collapsing as worshippers fled in panic.
The official death toll from the earthquake has risen to over 1,700, though it remains unclear whether the casualties within mosques are included in this figure.
The earthquake has exacerbated Myanmar's ongoing humanitarian crisis, already strained by civil war. Relief efforts face significant challenges due to damaged roads, collapsed bridges, and disrupted communications.
Government spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun confirmed that over 3,400 people were injured and more than 300 remain missing.
Emergency teams have struggled to reach affected areas, with many rescue operations carried out by local volunteers using limited resources.
The disaster also impacted neighboring Thailand, where at least 18 fatalities were reported, including several at a collapsed construction site in Bangkok.
In Myanmar, Buddhist structures were heavily damaged alongside Islamic sites, with reports of hundreds of monasteries and pagodas affected.
Muslims in Myanmar have long faced systemic marginalization and restrictions on maintaining their places of worship.
This tragedy highlights their vulnerability amidst broader societal challenges.
The earthquake has left entire communities devastated, with survivors recounting harrowing experiences of losing loved ones under collapsing structures.
International aid organizations have called for urgent assistance to address the growing crisis.
With thousands injured and displaced, Myanmar's recovery efforts are expected to be prolonged and fraught with difficulties due to its political instability and ongoing conflict.
