According to the latest news, more than 2,000 people lost their lives, and nearly 2,000 people were injured, in the earthquake that shook Myanmar on Friday, 28 March 2025. The Junta government has declared an emergency and requested international aid.
The injured are being treated in halls, rooms, and at the roadside due to a lack of space in the hospitals, which were also badly impacted by the tremors.
Roads, airports, buildings, temples, churches, and hospitals are badly destroyed in the country, disrupting even the infrastructure, which pushed the country into total darkness at night, with major power cuts across the country.
According to a survivor, “There is no electricity, and the water supply is not functioning. It’s becoming a challenge to even go to the toilet. We do not know when the electricity will be restored. Even Wi-Fi connections are unstable. Only one phone service provider is working in earthquake-affected areas like Mandalay and Sagaing regions. The SIM cards have become expensive and are costing 20 times the normal price.”
People find it difficult to travel on damaged roads and are helplessly stranded in many areas. Many are unable to return home due to disrupted transportation and severely affected roads.
First-hand Accounts of the Devastation
A couple travelling when the earthquake occurred became stranded and are still away from their home. They took shelter in a hotel and recounted, “My wife and I stayed in a hotel. We continuously experienced aftershocks last night, and we could feel the hotel shaking. We could not sleep because of the trauma.”
Pastor Caleb* owns a building in Central Myanmar. He provides shelter for believers who need refuge in the building and uses the top floor of the building as a devotion hall and study area for young people. Pastor Caleb shares, “The impact of the earthquake was so devastating that the building walls developed cracks. It resulted in severe damage to the top-floor devotion hall where the ceiling had caved in, and furniture lay toppled and broken. A young boy’s leg was severely injured as he attempted to escape the building.”
Daw Sun*, a widow who lives with her two children, narrates the horrific scene. “I felt the tremors and rushed out along with my children in panic. In a few minutes, we saw our house crumbling down. We just watched it collapsing in front of our eyes, helplessly. We are afraid to go inside our home now.”
As the night approached, thousands of people spent a dark, sleepless night, gripped with fear, as aftershocks were still felt at many places.
Christian survivors express, “We want to thank our brothers and sisters for their prayers and concern. We feel comforted and not isolated.”
Pray for Myanmar
- Please pray for the people of Myanmar and the surrounding areas, for their safety and God’s protection in the midst of natural disaster and war.
- Pray for Myanmar, as natural disasters such as earthquakes will cause further challenges for the people and displacement in the urban, non-conflict areas.
- Pray for the safety of Pastor Caleb* and all survivors, whose homes and shelters have been damaged or destroyed in the earthquake.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
