Myanmar Declares a Week of National Mourning After Devastating Earthquake
endonesiecorp
March 31, 2025 3:20 pm
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3 min read
Mandalay, Xweb.biz.id – Myanmar has declared a week-long period of national mourning starting Monday, following a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday, March 28, 2025. The disaster has claimed over 2,000 lives, with thousands more injured and hundreds still missing.
Rescue operations are ongoing, though hopes of finding more survivors are fading. The Myanmar junta announced that the national flag would be flown at half-mast until April 6, 2025, as a sign of respect for the victims and recognition of the widespread destruction.
Mandalay: One of the Hardest-Hit Areas
Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with a population of over 1.7 million, has been among the most severely affected regions. Thousands of residents have been displaced, forced to spend nights on the streets due to the destruction of their homes or fear of aftershocks.
“The situation is so dire that words fail to describe it,” said Aung Myint Hussein, head of the Sajja Utara Mosque in Mandalay.
Hospitals have been overwhelmed. The city’s 1,000-bed general hospital has been evacuated, with hundreds of patients now receiving care outdoors. Medical staff are working under extreme conditions, trying their best to provide emergency treatment.
“We are doing everything we can. This is far from ideal, but we have no choice,” said an unnamed medical worker.
Rising Death Toll and International Impact
According to the latest reports, the death toll has reached 2,056, with over 3,900 injured and 270 still missing. Among the casualties are several foreign nationals, including three Chinese and two French citizens.
The quake was so powerful that it was felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where at least 19 people died after a high-rise building under construction collapsed.
Challenges in Rescue and Recovery
Efforts to rescue survivors and recover bodies have been hampered by extensive infrastructure damage and disrupted communications. The extreme heat has further complicated rescue missions, accelerating the decomposition of bodies and making identification more difficult.
Despite the devastation, life in Mandalay is gradually resuming. Some restaurants and street vendors have reopened, and traffic is slowly returning to the streets. However, the scars of the disaster remain evident.
Eid Prayers Amid the Tragedy
In the midst of this crisis, hundreds of Muslims gathered for Eid prayers outside a mosque reduced to rubble by the earthquake. The moment was filled with sorrow and reflection as they prayed for the victims and hoped for a swift recovery.
With conditions still perilous and the death toll continuing to rise, the international community is closely watching to see whether humanitarian aid will reach those in desperate need. The coming days will be critical in determining Myanmar’s path to recovery from this devastating tragedy.