On Friday we learned of the devastating earthquake that has hit Myanmar. We reached out to our close friends and comrades to find out if they had been impacted, and while we were pleased to hear that they were OK, in the wider trade union movement many have been affected. With Myanmar still in the grips of a civil war, as ethnic armies and the People’s Defence Force formed by the government in exile resist the dictatorship that seized control in 2021, there are grave fears for the fate of rescue efforts.
Statement from Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar
On March 28, 2025, at approximately 1pm local time, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck the Sagaing Region in northwestern Myanmar. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock struck near Mandalay, followed by over 200 more minor earthquakes. These tremors caused widespread damage in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Shan State, Bago Region, and Nay Pyi Taw, as well as impacts in Myanmar and neighbouring countries such as China and Thailand.
Myanmar’s cultural heritage, including pagodas, Mandalay Palace, state buildings, monasteries, mosques, universities and schools, roads and a river bridge, hotels, many homes and buildings were destroyed. As of 1st April, 2025, the death toll in Myanmar has exceeded over 3,800, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that the death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake could exceed 10,000.
Initial estimates indicate that 18.3 million people, 4.04 million households, and US$77.5 billion in infrastructure are concentrated within the affected area. The number of injured people is over 4500, and rescue teams are still searching for survivors who may be trapped in collapsed buildings. Among those who suffered the most from the earthquake were members of our trade union, CTUM, and their families.
The National Unity Government of Myanmar said at least 13,411 residential buildings, 280 religious buildings, 43 roads and bridges were badly damaged or destroyed across the country. The Myanmar Red Cross estimated that around 50,000 families had been directly affected. The Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network estimated that 700 Muslim worshippers were killed in Mandalay and Sagaing across at least 60 damaged mosques. The junta said 670 Buddhist monasteries and 290 pagodas had been damaged.[*]
Is the relief effort working in Myanmar?
Due to the situation in my country, the relief effort is insufficient. The military does not have the capacity to provide facilities to meet the need. Many volunteer rescue teams were arrested, killed or have gone into hiding since the coup. We saw the news of the arrival of foreign rescue teams and relief items in Myanmar, which is not enough. It is sad to see that the military did not allow some rescue teams and medical support teams to enter Myanmar, such as from Taiwan.
Volunteer rescue organisations are helping to find the survivors from the collapsed buildings. Local people are helping to find survivors without having any rescue facilities. We do not have enough rescue teams to help people who were trapped in collapsed buildings, but the military have enforced a curfew, which means people have to halt searching and rescue operations after 10pm. If they do not stop, they can be arrested or conscripted for military service.
A volunteer rescue worker who was helping to evacuate people from buildings damaged by the earthquake in Mandalay was slapped and verbally abused by soldiers for not following their instructions to stop the relief. This happened before 10pm.
We cannot know the actual information of death and missing people or total damage due to lack of rescue facilities as well as there is no independent media inside the country and international journalists are not allow to enter Myanmar
Worse, while the NUG and pro-democracy armed groups have declared a ceasefire to help those affected by the earthquake, the military continues to carry out aerial bombardments and heavy weapons. Within 4 days after the earthquake, the military did 32 attacks across the country including the earthquake affected areas Mandalay and Shan state, killed 52 people.
What CTUM is doing?
CTUM began supporting rescue teams to save lives on 30th March. Our rescue teams travelled to Mandalay and Sagaing, the regions that were affected the most by the earthquake. There are currently a total of five units that we are supporting. They reported to CTUM about their activities in Mandalay and Sagaing. They dug out dead bodies from rubble including from two schools and saved some lives.
Our members from Mandalay and Sagain who were not affected severely during the earthquake are also working to help people who are trapped under rubble. CTUM is working with not only members and rescue team, we are in coordination with local people to fill the need of saving lives. We have been supplied high-intensity torches for night time work, heavy-duty cutters to cut the iron reinforcement bars, car fuel and food cost and some basic needs for rescue teams. More needs to be done to support people affected to ensure their survival. CTUM needs funding to continue support to those affected by the earthquake. We urge friends, brothers and sisters from trade unions and international communities to support people in Myanmar.