Yesterday, on March 28, 2025, a massive earthquake shook Myanmar and Thailand which was really terrible - it was 7.7 on the scale of magnitude. It struck near Mandalay in Myanmar, and because the shaking was very strong, it brought down buildings and trapped lives in an instant. So today, March 29, - we are still receiving updates about the awful toll the earthquake has cast, and perhaps more than anything, it's tough to wrap your head around what well might be real souls in that part of the world.
As is the fate of all tragedies, the news from Myanmar is dreary: over 120 dead, hundreds injured. Entire sections of Mandalay flattened, wailing families calling out for their lost relatives, and people digging through the rubble in hopes of finding survivors. Over in Thailand, 25 lives have also been lost, with many others injured, mostly in the north. Even in Bangkok, far from the epicenter, buildings wobbled, bridges broke, and roads split apart under the shaking. India too has felt the tremor, from Assam to Manipur, but thankfully no major damage has been reported so far.
It's amazing to contemplate the speed the world turned upside down. One moment, people were just living their lives-making dinner, talking with friends-and in the next, the ground caved in. It also happened to be shallow, only 10 kilometers deep, making it particularly devastating. Aftershock is expected to continue, and thus all are on the edge, waiting to see what happens next.
Well, amidst this chaos, good news is that India, especially Delhi, is rushing to the aid of the disaster-stricken nation. The government wasted no time -- they allotted teams of medical teams, supplies, and finances in order to help Myanmar and Thailand get back on their feet. The words of the Prime Minister's Office shared their feelings of concern, saying that India is ready to assist in all ways possible. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force are already packed and ready to go. Groups in Delhi are also teaming up with various other groups around the world to send food and medicines and other kinds of support. People coming together like that is pretty amazing.
The rest of the world is not left behind either. From what I hear, the United Nations and ASEAN countries are joining the bandwagon with other major groups in this activity. This time around, it's all about rescuing people, helping those injured, and sorting out the real, deep effects. It is hard to not feel for everyone caught up in this while sitting here. For the people of Myanmar and Thailand, it is not merely a headline; it has turned everything they knew upside down. They still have a long way to go, but there is hope that they will survive it since help is pouring in.
