Over 700 Worshippers Killed in Myanmar Earthquake During Ramadan Prayers

A Myanmar Muslim organization has reported that more than 700 worshippers were killed when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Friday, during the holy month of Ramadan, while prayers were being held at mosques.

Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network, confirmed the tragic toll on Monday. He stated that approximately 60 mosques were either damaged or destroyed by the earthquake, which hit near Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar.

The official death toll has surpassed 1,700 people, though it is still unclear whether the fatalities within the mosques are included in this count. The earthquake occurred during the Friday prayer time, a critical moment in Ramadan for Muslims.

Videos shared by The Irrawaddy news site captured the devastation, showing several mosques collapsing and people fleeing from the affected areas. Tun Kyi noted that many of the mosques impacted were older buildings, which were more vulnerable to such powerful seismic activity.

The earthquake has caused widespread destruction across the region, and relief efforts are underway to assist those affected by the disaster.