Yangon Airport, Myanmar, partially reopened for cargo planes carrying tents, blankets, food, drinking water and medical supplies

The relief machine has been set in action in the areas affected by the devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.7 that shook Myanmar and Thailand in these hours of March 28, 2025. While the death toll continues to be updated, local authorities fear a much higher number of deaths than currently confirmed; in the meantime, an airlift is being organized to bring humanitarian aid and rescue teams to the most affected areas.

Rescue by air and land

Relief efforts are complicated by the vastness of the affected area and the difficulty of accessing many locations. In Myanmar, the military junta has mobilized helicopters and cargo planes to reach the most remote areas and transport relief supplies. Thailand, for its part, has deployed rescue teams and medical units, supported by helicopters to quickly transport the wounded and equipment.

Several Nations and international organizations are coordinating the delivery of aid via cargo planes, carrying tents, blankets, food, drinking water and medical supplies. Yangon airport, although affected, has been partially reopened to allow cargo planes with aid to land.

Specialized search and rescue teams are working to find survivors in collapsed buildings in both Myanmar and Bangkok. Medical units from several countries have been sent to provide medical care to the injured. The death toll is constantly being updated, but local authorities are reporting difficulties in reaching all affected areas. In Myanmar, there are fears that the final toll could be much higher than the current one, due to the difficulty of accessing many rural areas. In Bangkok, the collapse of a skyscraper under construction has caused a significant number of victims and missing.

The international community has mobilized to provide assistance to the affected countries. In addition to humanitarian aid, teams of experts have been sent to assess the damage and coordinate relief operations.

In the video below, images of the earthquake and its effects: