China Pledges $13.8 Mln in Aid to Myanmar After Earthquake

China has announced a relief package worth 100 million yuan ($13.77 million) to support Myanmar following a powerful earthquake that claimed over 1,000 lives.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar stated on Saturday that the aid will include tents, blankets, emergency medical supplies, food, water, and other essential goods. The first shipment is scheduled to arrive on March 31.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northwest of Sagaing, central Myanmar, on Friday afternoon, triggering widespread destruction and chaos. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock followed shortly after, further compounding the devastation.

The tremors were felt as far as Thailand, with millions in Bangkok experiencing rare seismic activity.

Myanmar’s authorities have confirmed at least 1,002 deaths and 2,376 injuries, with Mandalay—the country’s second-largest city—suffering the worst damage.

The destruction of homes, bridges, and religious sites has raised fears of an even greater humanitarian crisis in a nation already struggling with an ongoing civil war since the 2021 military coup.