On a fateful Friday, as the call to prayer echoed through Sagaing, Myanmar, hundreds of Muslims gathered at five mosques to observe their last Friday prayers of Ramadan. The day was meant to be a time of reflection and community, just days ahead of the Eid festive period. However, at 12:51 PM local time (06:21 GMT), a powerful earthquake struck, leading to the catastrophic collapse of three mosques, including the largest, Myoma, resulting in a shocking loss of life.
Soe Nay Oo, the former imam of the Myoma mosque, was at a safe distance in the Thai border town of Mae Sot when he felt the tremor. In the aftermath, he learned that around 170 of his relatives, friends, and former congregation members perished, primarily within the mosques. Many of the victims were prominent figures in the tightly-knit Muslim community. Soe Nay Oo expressed his grief, stating,
“I think about all the people who lost their lives, and the victims’ children – some of them are young children,”
adding that he struggles to hold back tears when reflecting on the tragedy.
Casualties and community impact
The earthquake not only resulted in over 2,700 fatalities but also left a profound impact on the Muslim community in Sagaing and Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. According to figures provided by the country’s leader, Min Aung Hlaing, approximately 500 Muslims died while engaged in prayer. Eyewitness accounts indicated that Myoma Street, where the mosques stood, was among the hardest hit, with numerous homes also reduced to rubble.
In the aftermath, hundreds have sought refuge on the streets, as many are now homeless or too fearful to return to their residences due to potential aftershocks. Reports of food shortages have also emerged, compounding the crisis. In Myoma alone, more than 60 individuals were reported trapped under debris, while additional casualties were recorded at the Myodaw and Moekya mosques. Rescuers continue to recover bodies from the wreckage.
Personal losses and a community in mourning
Soe Nay Oo shared the devastating loss of his wife’s cousin, describing her death as
“the most painful thing that I have endured”
throughout his 13 years as an imam. He fondly recalled her generosity and the love she shared with their family. Another significant loss was that of a well-respected businessman from the community who had performed the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Soe Nay Oo reminisced,
“He always called me Nyi Lay [‘little brother’ in Burmese]…I have lost those whom I love like brothers like him.”
The reverberations of grief spread further with the deaths of friends who had played crucial roles in the community, including his former assistant imam and the only female trustee of the Myoma mosque.
As the community grapples with the enormity of their loss, the active conflict between the military junta and resistance groups has complicated their mourning process. The local Muslim cemetery is inaccessible due to ongoing violence, necessitating the transportation of bodies to Mandalay for burial at the largest mosque there. Soe Nay Oo lamented,
“For Muslims, it is the saddest thing, that we cannot bury our families by ourselves at the end of their journey.”
The survivors, navigating their own trauma, have stepped up to assist in rescue efforts, embodying the resilience of their community.
Soe Nay Oo, still reeling from the tragedy, has temporarily halted his human rights work in Thailand to coordinate rescue efforts back in Sagaing. He estimates that at least 1,000 Muslims in the area are in urgent need of support as they recover from this unimaginable loss. He finds solace in being able to provide assistance, sharing information and helping where he can, despite his own heartache.