A powerful earthquake inflicted severe damage on key junta ministry offices in Naypyidaw, including the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, and the Ministry of Information. Many government employees have fled the capital, according to an investigation by Mizzima.
The destruction extends to the offices of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Information, Labor, Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation. While the extent of the damage varies, all affected buildings have sustained significant structural harm.
At least 20 fatalities have been reported within ministry workplaces, with additional deaths in government staff housing estimated in the dozens, according to sources from a local news network in Naypyidaw.
However, Mizzima has not been able to independently verify these figures. Among the confirmed casualties are personnel from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labor, including at least one senior official from the Labor Ministry.
The earthquake struck northwest of Sagaing around noon on 28 March, disrupting government operations. Many ministry staff, unable to work inside their damaged offices, have been forced to conduct their duties in open areas or along roadsides within ministry compounds. Their primary task has been assessing and reporting damages to the junta.
Some ministry buildings have collapsed entirely, while others have sustained cracked floors, shattered ceilings and windows, and large fissures in the walls. Offices remain in disarray, strewn with debris.
Due to the extensive damage at the Ministry of Social Welfare and Disaster Management, Deputy Junta Chief Vice Senior-General Soe Win led an emergency relief meeting on 29 March. The meeting was held under a makeshift tent outside the main office building.
During the meeting, Vice Senior-General Soe Win announced that temporary shelters would be set up in parks and open spaces near staff housing areas for those left homeless by the disaster.
The worst-hit residential areas include Bugwe and Khayay staff housing in Zabuthiri Township and Padauk staff housing in Bawgatheikdi ward, where several ground-floor apartments collapsed, resulting in fatalities.
A government worker described the dire conditions, “Our residences are unliveable, and we can’t go to work either. We are now sleeping, eating, and working on the streets. We want the offices to be officially closed, but only senior officials are being allowed to be absent, leaving lower-ranking staff with no options.”
Many displaced staff have returned to their hometowns, while others have rented accommodations elsewhere. Some are living on the streets due to the lack of shelter. Food shortages have emerged, with some affected individuals relying on donated meal packs from charitable groups.
Officials from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the Ministry of Information, and the Ministry of Construction, who have not been permitted to leave Naypyidaw, are operating generators inside their damaged offices to continue working.
Although traffic lights in Naypyidaw remain functional, large residential areas are experiencing power outages. The Ministry of Electricity has issued a statement requesting public understanding.
While no official holiday has been declared, some ministries have granted leave to employees, while others are allowing only those in extreme hardship to stay home.
Following the earthquake, all junta government ministry websites went offline, and state-controlled Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) and Myawaddy television suspended their online broadcasts.
The junta has remained silent on the full extent of the destruction and has tightened security measures in Naypyidaw, restricting access to outsiders.
Significant cracks and structural damage have been observed in the compound known as “Six Houses,” home to retired military leaders.
The area is home to the residences of former Senior General Than Shwe, Vice Senior General Maung Aye, General Shwe Mann, General Thein Sein, Lt-General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, and Lt-General Tin Aye. After the 1 February 2021 coup, current Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing also constructed a residence within the compound.
While repairs are reportedly underway in public areas with visible damage, as of late evening on 30 March, no reconstruction work has begun on most government buildings, including ministry offices in Naypyidaw.
