A 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake has Hit Myanmar
Following the most powerful earthquake to strike Myanmar in over a century, children in Myanmar and Thailand urgently need safe places to sleep, food, water, health care and education, as well as protection. Our teams are moving quickly, but it's crucial that we act now to provide support to the thousands of people in need.
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When and where did the Myanmar earthquake hit?
The earthquake's epicenter lay just outside Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, and with a magnitude of 7.7, it was the strongest earthquake recorded anywhere in the world since the quake that hit Turkiye and Syria in 2023.
The earthquake was felt in many parts of the country, including major cities like Yangon, Mandalay and towns in Magway, Sagaing, and Shan, with tremors causing destruction in Thailand and felt elsewhere in the region.
What is the extent of the damage caused by the Myanmar earthquake?
Jeremy Stoner, Acting Asia Regional Director at Save the Children, said: "While the extent of the earthquake damage is still unclear, we know children are the most vulnerable following disaster."
Myanmar has now declared a state of emergency across six regions, with the death toll rising by the hour as the search for survivors continues. As of Saturday 29th, more than 1,000 people have reportedly died and thousands more injured – many are children. These figures are only likely to rise over the coming days as search and rescue operations continue. Many are feared to be trapped under the rubble
In neighboring Thailand, where a state of emergency has also been declared, Save the Children is assessing the extent of structural damage to schools in the north of the country and along the border with Myanmar. The earthquake has severely impacted over 28,000 children living in refugee camps, further worsening their already vulnerable situation due to recent aid funding cuts.
What do children and families across Myanmar need?
Children and families who need urgent support as they come to terms with what has happened.
"Following a disaster of this scale, we expect the immediate and long-term needs to be access to a safe place to sleep, food, water, health care and education, as well as protection from the increased risks of violence, exploitation and abuse," said Stoner.
"Children will also need emotional support in the days, weeks and months following this earthquake, and an immediate and concerted effort from the international community will be critical in responding to the needs of children and communities in Myanmar and Thailand."
How can I help earthquake survivors in Myanmar and Thailand?
Our Children’s Emergency Fund means we can act as soon as a crisis hits, and deliver lifesaving support wherever it is needed, when it matters most – whether that’s healthcare, shelter, nutritious meals or cash. It means we have funds ready for when a disaster strikes, so we don’t have to wait to reach children in crises.
By giving to Save the Children’s Emergency Fund, you can help protect a children caught up in emergencies like this latest earthquake in Myanmar, helping to protect a child’s life and future
Save the Children's Work in Myanmar
Save the Children has been working in Myanmar since 1995, providing lifesaving healthcare, food and nutrition, education and child protection programs.
Myanmar has endured a long history of insecurity and conflict, which escalated dramatically in 2021, spreading rapidly across the entire country. Today, Myanmar is gripped by one of the most violent conflicts in the world.
The scale of the humanitarian crisis is staggering. According to the UN, one-third of the population—18.6 million people, including 6 million children—are in desperate need of aid. Over 3.4 million people have been displaced from their homes. Many of the displaced are left without adequate shelter, exposed to harsh weather, and struggling to survive in increasingly dire conditions.
On Friday, March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake, the strongest earthquake recorded anywhere in the world since the quake that hit Turkiye and Syria in 2023, caused widespread damage and casualties with many people still unaccounted for across the region. Save the Children has been working Myanmar since 1995, providing life-saving healthcare, food and nutrition, education and child protection programs.
Our Impact
The impact on children is particularly harrowing. Children are losing their lives, experiencing distress, anxiety, depression, and fear, leading to both immediate and long-term psychological and social suffering for them and their caregivers.
Education, a fundamental right, is also under threat. According to the World Bank, 4.5 million children now require educational support due to disruptions in safe learning opportunities. In 2023, more than a quarter (28%) of children aged 6–17 were out of school.
The economic downturn, volatile exchange rates, and soaring market prices have left the general population struggling to afford even the most basic necessities. According to UNICEF, access to healthcare is equally dire, with preventable diseases claiming many children’s lives, including a resurgence of malaria, acute watery diseases and vector-borne diseases. Malnutrition poses a growing threat to those without sufficient food and increased exposure to preventable diseases.
Compounding the crisis, Myanmar is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In 2024, flooding during the monsoon season was eight times worse than the previous year, displacing even more families and exacerbating an already critical situation.
Our Work
A mother and daughter hold hands in Myanmar, where their family has been displaced due to conflict.
Nan May Soe* and her family are living in a displacement camp. Even though her father works as a farmer, they are struggling with food security. The family received two month’s worth of rice from Save the Children at a food distribution program, which assisted the community living in the displacement camp.
Myanmar’s children need our collective support now more than ever.
Save the Children is on the ground, doing everything possible to support affected communities. Our programs in education, health, and nutrition, among others, have made a lasting impact on children and their families. Our health projects have contributed to increased testing and treatment of malaria cases, while our education programs have supported children to re-enroll in school following conflict and COVID-19 disruptions.
Since 1995, Save the Children has been a neutral and impartial organization in Myanmar, committed to ensuring that children have the chance to survive, learn, and be protected.
Updated: March 29, 2025