A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, leaving a trail of devastation and loss of life across multiple regions. The tremor, which severely impacted the Mandalay and Sagaing regions, has claimed at least 10,000 lives and injured more than 3,400 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Sagaing City, one of the hardest-hit areas, remains largely cut off as rescue efforts continue, and casualty numbers are expected to rise. Local media report that nearly 60% of the city’s population is unaccounted for. The earthquake also crippled critical infrastructure, damaging roads, bridges, hospitals, airports, and brick structures throughout the region.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Myanmar is among those heavily affected. According to Pastor Teint Saung, Communication Director for the Adventist Church in Myanmar (MYUM), six churches, one seminary, and one orphanage sustained major damage or complete destruction.
Three Seventh-day Adventist members were among the casualties. A female church member lost her life, and several others suffered serious injuries. One family reported two children injured when their home, located in the Mandalay Church district, collapsed. Another church member in Nay Pyi Taw suffered a head injury when a four-story building fell during the quake and is currently undergoing surgery. A young man from another family also sustained leg injuries.
Many Adventist members sought refuge at the Mandalay church compound, now serving as a temporary shelter. In Sagaing City, the local pastor’s house collapsed, forcing the family to sleep on the street. The Central Myanmar Adventist Seminary and Orphanage buildings also suffered heavy damage, leaving the community scrambling for temporary solutions.
“We humbly ask for your prayers for our nation,” said Pastor Saung. “Our people are grieving, but they remain resilient in their faith. Please lift up our members, our pastors, and our country as we recover from this disaster.”
The Myanmar Union Mission continues to assess the damage and extend support to affected communities, focusing on immediate needs such as food, shelter, and medical care. The Adventist Church has begun coordinating relief efforts and calling on members worldwide to support Myanmar during this time of crisis.