Rescue personnel work at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 29, 2025. Photograph: Reuters
Good morning. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on Friday was the largest in the region for more than a century. When the final toll becomes clear, it is likely to be the deadliest in Myanmar’s modern history. And three days after the quake, hopes of rescuing those still trapped in the rubble will soon begin to fade.
Myanmar is the victim of a devastating natural disaster – but also a set of interlocking political and military circumstances that badly exacerbate the crisis. Today’s newsletter explains what we know about the toll so far, and how the country’s repressive ruling junta may have made it even worse. Here are the headlines.
