Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Myanmar Killing at Least 1,600 People

What Happened?

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southeast Asia Saturday.

The earthquake's epicenter was located ten miles north-west of Sagaing, which is also near Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay. It has a population of about 1.5 million people – and is about sixty miles north of the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.

The first earthquake struck around 12:50 on Saturday. A second earthquake struck 12 minutes later, with a magnitude of 6.4 according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

So far, the number killed is believed to be at least 1,600 with thousands more injured. Despite widespread damage from the quake, Myanmar’s ruling military regime said it would not halt a bombing campaign that is part of a brutal civil war currently raging in the country.

Why it Matters

The earthquake was felt as far away as portions of India and China, but Myanmar was the country most affected. Because the quake struck so near to major population centers, it’s likely the death toll will increase substantially since rescuers have yet to even reach all the areas affected. 

Making matters more difficult, aftershocks continue to batter the region, and buildings damaged but still standing after the initial quake could collapse from the subsequent aftershocks. Even before the earthquake the ruling regime had placed severe restrictions on movement throughout the country and on the flow of information. Both of these will hamper rescue efforts.

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, was already embroiled in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms.

A civil war has been ongoing in Myanmar ever since, with several different insurgencies and factions fighting against the ruling military regime. The quake has not stopped the fighting, with both government factions and insurgencies vowing to continue battling each other despite the damage and widespread destruction.  

Ongoing hostilities add another layer of danger for rescuers, who are at risk of being caught in the crossfire of warring factions.

The ruling regime is already unpopular in Myanmar, and a poor response to a major disaster like Saturday’s earthquake could push more of the population to either join or support anti-government factions. But because the damage is so severe, in the short term the focus of most people in Myanmar will be on recovery and survival. 

How it Affects You

Due to the ongoing civil war and earthquake damage, travel to Myanmar for the foreseeable future is definitely not recommended. 

Even international rescue teams will likely find it difficult to gain access to areas in need of their help.