Islamic Relief is preparing to respond after a powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and Thailand.

The magnitude-7.7 quake hit central Myanmar close to the city of Mandalay in the early hours of Friday 28 March. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock followed shortly after.

At least 144 people have been killed and more than 700 injured in Myanmar, according to reports, but there are fears the toll will be much higher. Mandalay is reported to have suffered widespread destruction, including the collapse of a 5-storey building and a bridge. Some people were reportedly killed while praying as a mosque collapsed.

As far as 900 kilometres away in the Thai capital, Bangkok, an unfinished high-rise building collapsed in rubble.

The full scale of the damage is not yet clear, with communications issues hampering efforts to assess the situation, which remains fluid, with more aftershocks expected.

Search and rescue efforts are underway. Myanmar has declared a state of emergency, with authorities requesting international assistance. In Thailand, Bangkok has been declared as a ‘disaster area’.

Islamic Relief’s response

Islamic Relief is taking steps to liaise with fellow UK agencies and local organisations we have partnered with previously to assess the scale of the disaster and needs of those affected.

We have set aside funds for an initial response, to begin once needs are clear and access to affected areas are confirmed by our partners.

The disaster comes at a time when many humanitarian organisations operating in Myanmar have been impacted by funding cuts. Myanmar is subject to sanctions, with humanitarian exemptions in place.

Mandalay’s population has swelled in recent years with people arriving in the city having fled fighting elsewhere in Myanmar.

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