Four people died at Obo Prison in Mandalay City as a result of the 28 March 2025 earthquake which had its epicentre almost directly under the city.

There were four earthquake related deaths at Obo Prison, also known as Mandalay Central Prison, between when the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on 28 March and 1 April, according to Ko Thaik Tun Oo, a member of the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar (PPNM) steering committee.

He said to MNJ: “We can confirm that four people died in Obo, including one political prisoner. However, it’s still unclear whether the other three were inmates or prison staff.”

He added that so far PPNM had been able to confirm four fatalities but that they still in the process of gathering more information and finding out if there were further casualties at the prison.

He said: “It’s been really difficult even to get information about what’s happening outside the prison since the earthquake hit, so accessing details about what’s going on inside has been just as challenging. We’re still investigating to determine exactly how many deaths and injuries occurred inside the prison.”

Five prisons are located close to the epicentre of the earthquake. They are Obo, Meiktila and Myingyan prisons in Mandalay Region and Shwebo and Monywa prisons in Sagaing Region. PPNM still unsure whether there were any casualties at those prisons and is currently still investigating

But, according to PPNM, no other injuries or deaths were reported at other prisons throughout Myanmar, including major facilities like Daik-U, Thayarwaddy, and Taungoo prisons in Bago Region, Nyaung-U Prison in Mandalay Region, Pathein and Maubin prisons in Ayeyarwady Region, Thayet Prison in Magway Region, Kale Prison in Sagaing Region, and Insein Prison in Yangon Region.