On Friday 28 March 2025, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, with tremors felt across the country and as far as Bangkok, Thailand. The quake caused widespread destruction, particularly in Mandalay, where buildings collapsed and critical infrastructure was heavily damaged. An estimated 6.1 million people across Myanmar have been affected.
“All CARE staff in Myanmar are safe, but the earthquake has caused damage in Mandalay and nearby areas,” said Arif Noor, CARE Myanmar Country Director.
“This powerful quake struck a country already in crisis, with 19.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The response remains significantly underfunded, and this disaster has only worsened an already fragile situation. CARE and our partners are urgently assessing the damage and preparing to support affected communities.”
“In Bangkok, this is the first time we experienced such a strong impact from an earthquake, and it is deeply concerning; especially for densely populated urban areas,” said Promboon Panitchpakdi, Executive Director of CARE Thailand.
“We felt the tremors clearly in Bangkok, buildings shook for several minutes, and all office staff evacuated immediately. The government has declared a state of emergency. Several high-rise buildings are now being inspected for structural risks. Some damage has also been reported to the expressway, and mass communication systems in Bangkok are currently disrupted. We are closely monitoring the situation across the country and are ready to provide support if needed.”
Our thoughts are with everyone impacted.
CARE Australia has worked in Myanmar since 1995. In recent years, CARE Australia has been providing support for people affected by conflict, including protection programs for women and girls, nutrition programs and responses to disasters such as cyclones. Most recently, in January this year, CARE Australia began work in the west of the country, through a program funded by the Australian Government.
Donations can be made the emergency at https://care.org.au/appeals/myanmar-earthquake/
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Briony FitzGerald on 0404 117 927
About CARE International
CARE is a leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. From emergency response to long-term sustainable solutions, CARE is known for our unshakeable commitment to the dignity of all people. We work to support women and girls, so we can effectively address the root causes of poverty and create pathways to economic freedom for all. We do this in partnership with men and boys and community leaders locally, regionally, and globally. For nearly 80 years, CARE has been there, from the first CARE Packages® delivering relief in Europe after World War II, to every major global crisis since. Our long-term development programs and trusted local leadership continue to impact the lives of millions of people around the world.
About CARE Australia
CARE Australia is one member of the global CARE Confederation. CARE Australia supports women and girls around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women and girls to be educated and to earn an income, gain access to essential resources like food, health care and clean water, and to be able to withstand and recover from the increasing impacts of disasters, conflict and other crises. Our programs focus on women and girls because we know when one woman breaks the cycle of poverty she brings four others with her – and that’s a powerful multiplier of impact.
