Death Toll From Myanmar’s Devastating Earthquake on Rise as Rescuers Race against time

The death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28th has risen to over 2,000, according to the country’s military junta, RFA reported. The shadow National Unity Government, however, has reported an even higher figure of 2,418 fatalities.

The earthquake has had a devastating impact on the Muslim community in Myanmar. A Muslim organization, the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network, has stated that more than 700 worshippers were killed when the quake struck during Friday prayers in the holy month of Ramadan. The group also reported that around 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed near the city of Mandalay.

Videos circulating online have shown several mosques collapsing during the quake, with people fleeing the areas. Tun Kyi, a member of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network, said that the older, more vulnerable mosque buildings were particularly affected.

The earthquake has also taken a heavy toll on children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that millions of children are at risk, with homes, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure sustaining severe damage. In a tragic incident, a private preschool in the Mandalay area collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 50 children and two teachers.

UNICEF is mobilizing emergency aid, including health kits, medical supplies, tents, and hygiene kits, to support the affected children and families. However, the organization has called for urgent funding and safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access to the earthquake-hit areas, as the crisis compounds an already dire situation for Myanmar’s children.

According to the UN, even before the earthquake, over 6.5 million children in Myanmar were in need of assistance, with one in three displaced people a child. Yet, the humanitarian response remains critically underfunded, with less than 10% of the 2025 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal received to date.

The earthquake has also had a significant impact on neighboring Thailand, where at least 18 people have been killed, many at a construction site in Bangkok where a partially built high-rise collapsed.