After a strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake and three aftershocks hit Myanmar on March 28, the Myanmar Government officially requested humanitarian aid from the international community, especially the ASEAN community. In response to this request, the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre (AHA Centre) immediately activated ASEAN-ERAT to support the Myanmar government in assessing damage and coordinating international assistance.
The mission, consisting of 21 members from 9 ASEAN countries, will assess the damage in Myanmar within 14 days (from March 30 to April 12). Among them, the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) has sent 03 members to join the mission, arriving in Yangon, Myanmar last night (March 31). This morning, the team departed to affected areas to begin their support activities.
The ASEAN Emergency Assessment and Response Team (ASEAN-ERAT) is a collaborative initiative of ASEAN countries that has proven effective in disaster management cooperation in the region for over 10 years (since 2011). In the most challenging times of natural disasters, the solidarity and close coordination between ASEAN countries become a solid foundation. The ASEAN-ERAT mechanism is a living testament to ASEAN’s continuous efforts in responding promptly to natural disasters, not only through specialized teams but also through compassion, sharing, and cooperation in humanitarian aid efforts.
The VDDMA team, in coordination with staff from other ASEAN countries, is working to support Myanmar in coordinating international resources, conducting rapid damage assessments, and identifying urgent needs to mobilize assistance for Myanmar in overcoming the challenges.
Earlier, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security sent 105 officers and soldiers (80 from the Ministry of National Defense and 25 from the Ministry of Public Security) along with various equipment to Myanmar to directly participate in search and rescue operations. The rescue forces are searching for victims of the earthquake in Mandalay on March 30.
In Myanmar, the State Administration Council (SAC) declared a state of emergency in the six affected states and regions: Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, and Shan State in the northeast, requesting international support for the relief efforts. The earthquake affected around 7,000 people with severe shaking, 2.87 million people with significant shaking, and 10.2 million people with strong or very strong shaking (ECHO, March 28, 2025).
As of March 31, according to the report from the Myanmar Disaster Management Department under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement, approximately 1,659 people have been confirmed dead, 3,534 people injured, and 284 people missing. The Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay highway and Mandalay International Airport suffered severe damage. The Nay Pyi Taw airport terminal collapsed, and the airport had to be closed. Ava Bridge, several architectural structures, and Buddhist temples on the Sagaing mountain range were also destroyed.
In Thailand, according to the report from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of Thailand under the Ministry of the Interior, the earthquake also caused 18 fatalities, 34 injuries, and 78 missing persons at three construction sites in Bangkok, including the collapse of a 30-story building.
