Myanmar Earthquake Devastates Mosques as Muslims Gather for Ramadan Prayers
A powerful earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday left a devastating trail of destruction, particularly targeting places of worship where Muslims had gathered for Ramadan prayers. The tremor, which collapsed mosques and homes, has left hundreds feared dead, as rescue efforts remain hindered by a lack of heavy equipment.
Tragedy in the Heart of Worship
Htet Min Oo, a 25-year-old resident of Mandalay, was performing ritual ablutions before Friday prayers when disaster struck. His home and the adjacent mosque collapsed, trapping him under the rubble. Two of his aunts were buried under a fallen wall, and while one was saved, the other did not survive.
With no professional rescue teams in sight, Htet Min Oo and other survivors attempted to free their loved ones using only their hands. “I don’t know if they are still alive under the debris. After so long, I don’t think there’s any hope,” he said, his voice breaking into tears.
Mosques in Ruins, Lives Lost
More than 50 mosques suffered damage, according to Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government. The worst-hit areas include Sule Kone village in Mandalay, where residents faced the grim reality of retrieving bodies from collapsed structures.
A local rescuer, who declined to be named, recounted the horrifying moment he had to abandon an injured man due to aftershocks. “I retrieved four people with my own hands. But unfortunately, three were already dead and one died in my arms,” he said.
At least 23 worshippers were killed in Sule Kone alone, with many more feared trapped. Government restrictions on mosque repairs had left many buildings vulnerable to collapse, adding to the scale of the disaster.
Myanmar’s Marginalized Muslims Left Without Aid
Muslims in Myanmar, a minority in the predominantly Buddhist nation, have long faced discrimination and restrictions, including government-imposed barriers to mosque repairs. A 2017 report by the U.S. State Department highlighted that many historic mosques had deteriorated due to the authorities’ refusal to grant permits for maintenance work.
While Buddhist structures were also affected by the quake—with the military government reporting damage to 670 monasteries and 290 pagodas—there was no official mention of mosque destruction in its damage report. This has led to fears that aid and rescue efforts may neglect the Muslim community, leaving survivors without crucial assistance.
Desperate Calls for Help
In Mandalay, Julian Kyle took to social media to plea for heavy machinery to lift collapsed concrete pillars at a mosque. “Underneath the rubble, my family members and others were crushed and lost their lives,” he wrote. “We desperately want to recover their bodies.”
Meanwhile, in Taungnoo, a resident recalled the horror of watching one side of the Kandaw mosque collapse during prayers, burying rows of worshippers before him. “I saw so many people carried out from the mosque, some of them died right before my eyes. It was truly heartbreaking,” he said.
Urgent Need for International Response
As Myanmar struggles to cope with the aftermath of the earthquake, urgent international intervention is needed to provide aid, search-and-rescue operations, and medical assistance to affected communities. The lack of government response to the mosque collapses raises concerns about the safety and well-being of Myanmar’s Muslim population, who remain at the mercy of both natural disasters and systemic discrimination.
The full scale of the disaster is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: Myanmar’s marginalized Muslim community is once again bearing the brunt of tragedy, left to fend for themselves in their darkest hour.
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Myanmar Earthquake Devastates Mosques as Muslims Gather for Ramadan Prayers