CPI Responds to Deadly Earthquake in Myanmar

Community Partners International (CPI) is responding to a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, causing widespread destruction and panic. The quake hit near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with over 1.5 million residents, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock just minutes later. Further tremors have been felt in the days following the quake.

Widespread Destruction and Rising Death Toll

The earthquake shook Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and India, leaving a trail of devastation. In Myanmar, at least 3,600 people have died and nearly 5,000 have been injured, with overwhelmed hospitals declaring mass casualty events.

Blood is seen on the face of an earthquake survivor as she rests in a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

The UN estimates that the quake has affected more than 17 million people across 57 townships. In the hardest-hit regions, including Mandalay, Sagaing and Bago, buildings and bridges collapsed and roads buckled. In some areas, nearly three-quarters of buildings were reported to be significantly damaged.

A stupa and temple buildings in Amarapura, Myanmar, lie damaged and in ruins after the March 2025 earthquake. (Kaung Myat/CPI)

At least 199,000 people have been displaced with tens of thousands now sheltering in makeshift tents as seasonal storms bring torrential rains. Aftershocks continue to terrify communities scarred and traumatized by the quake.

An encampment of makeshift tents made of bamboo and netting in Amarapura, Myanmar, offer shelter to families displaced by the March 2025 earthquake. — An encampment in Mandalay Region, Myanmar, for people displaced by the March 2025 earthquake. (Kaung Myat/CPI)

A baby, just days old and displaced by the March 2025 earthquake, sleeps in a makeshift shelter watched over by his mother and older brother in Amaraupra, Myanmar. — A baby, just days old and displaced by the March 2025 earthquake, sleeps in a makeshift shelter in Amarapura, Myanmar. (Kaung Myat/CPI)

In a rare appeal, Myanmar’s military government has asked for international assistance as the country faces internal strife and a mounting humanitarian crisis. Escalating conflict since 2021 has displaced more than 3.5 million people. Over 20 million—including six million children—need humanitarian assistance. More than half of Myanmar’s population now lives below the poverty line.

Impact Beyond Myanmar

The quake’s force spread beyond Myanmar’s borders, affecting Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and India. In Bangkok, Thailand, a high-rise under construction collapsed, trapping dozens of workers under the rubble.

CPI Launches Immediate Humanitarian Response

Community Partners International’s teams and local partners on the ground have mobilized lifesaving aid to people in need, reaching thousands of people in the days following the earthquake. We are prioritizing:

Medical care and emergency referrals
Food, safe water, hygiene and sanitation
Shelter support, emergency power and cash assistance

An open-air kitchen in Amarapura, Myanmar, serves food to people affected by the March 2025 earthquake. (Kaung Myat/CPI)

A family in Bago Region, Myanmar, affected by the March 2025 earthquake receive essential household items to support their recovery. (Aye Pyae Sone/CPI)

See our latest blog post on Myanmar earthquake response here.

USAID Shutdown Intensifies Myanmar’s Crisis

The recent shutdown of over 90% of USAID’s global programs, including hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Myanmar, has intensified an already dire humanitarian crisis. Communities already on the brink are now struggling to cope with the earthquake’s devastation.

How You Can Help

Donate now to support the people of Myanmar in this time of crisis.