Death Toll Climbs to 1,600 in Myanmar as Crews Comb Through the Rubble

It was a week of extreme weather and natural disasters across the globe. The major headline-grabber was a deadly earthquake that rattled Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, March 28, 2025.

The epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, leading to significant destruction in the Sagaing Region and affecting neighboring countries. Critical infrastructure— bridges, roads, hospitals, and communication networks, sustained severe damage, complicating rescue and relief efforts.

Death Toll Soars in Myanmar

Just as local officials warned on Friday, the death toll attributed to the massive earthquake in Myanmar soared overnight. Over 1,600 people are now confirmed dead after a 7.7 magnitude quake rattled Southeast Asia on Friday morning. This number is up from the previous count of 1,002.

In addition to the devastating number of fatalities, there have been at least 3,400 injuries reported as a result of the natural disaster. There are also still at least 130 people reported as missing.