'Urgent need for humanitarian assistance' in Myanmar and Thailand; ASEAN says ready to support relief efforts
Meanwhile, ASEAN chair Malaysia has deployed a 10-member team from its national disaster management agency to Myanmar and will send another 40 people on Sunday.
Volunteer rescuers are seen near damaged buildings caused by an earthquake, Mar 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. (Photo: AP/The Myanmar Military True News Information Team)
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) says it recognises the “urgent need” for humanitarian assistance and stands ready to support relief and recovery efforts in quake-hit Myanmar and Thailand.
The regional bloc stands ready to deploy the ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team, use its disaster emergency logistics system and offer urban search and rescue support, ASEAN foreign ministers said in a statement on Saturday (Mar 29).
These efforts will be based on priorities identified by Myanmar and Thailand, they said.
The Myanmar junta's information team said 1,002 people are known to have died in Friday’s 7.7-magnitude quake, while 2,376 are injured, AFP reported. Around 10 more deaths have been confirmed in Bangkok, where a 30-storey building under construction collapsed.
The quake struck northwest of Sagaing city in central Myanmar early Friday afternoon and was followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. Besides Bangkok, the quake was felt in places like Chiang Mai and Ho Chi Minh City.
Myanmar’s junta made a rare request for international aid and declared a state of emergency in the regions of Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Eastern Shan State and the capital Naypyidaw.
Thailand has also declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.
The ASEAN foreign ministers said the 10-member bloc will coordinate humanitarian assistance, support and facilitate relief operations to ensure a timely and effective response.
This will be done with the assistance of ASEAN’s coordinating centre for humanitarian assistance on disaster management, they said.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERS OFFER HELP, CONDOLENCES
Earlier on Saturday, ASEAN’s 2025 chair Malaysia said it had deployed a 10-member team from its national disaster management agency to Myanmar. It will send another 40 personnel on Sunday (Mar 30).
"Based on the findings of the advance team, a second (national disaster management agency) deployment involving 40 personnel is scheduled to depart on Sunday," Malaysia’s foreign ministry said, as reported by local media.
"This larger team will focus on addressing priority areas identified during the initial assessment, ensuring that Malaysia's assistance remains targeted, relevant, and responsive to the evolving situation."
Southeast Asian leaders including Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong have also offered condolences.
“On behalf of Malaysia, I extend our deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones, and our prayers go to those injured and displaced,” said Anwar on social media on Friday.
Anwar said Malaysia is also closely monitoring developments in Yunnan in southern China, where tremors have been felt and structural damage reported.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of both countries during this difficult time," Prabowo wrote on X on Friday night.
"Indonesia stands ready to provide all necessary support for recovery efforts in the affected areas."
