Global Pulse

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  • Clean energy transition speeds up across nation

    Clean energy transition speeds up across nation

    Against the global backdrop of urgent carbon reduction and sustainable development, China is advancing its clean energy transformation at an unprecedented pace, with breakthrough projects and technological innovations reshaping the nation’s energy ecosystem from coastal waters to abandoned underground mines.

    In Tai’an, a resource-dependent city in East China’s Shandong Province, a pioneering energy infrastructure project has breathed new life into a long-abandoned rock salt mine. What was once a void left by decades of extraction has been reborn as a large-scale compressed air energy storage facility, the first commercial project of its kind developed by China Energy Engineering Group Co. Liu Shaoyong, the project’s manager, outlined the facility’s impressive technical specifications: designed to store energy for eight hours and deliver four hours of continuous power generation, it can produce up to 460 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the annual residential demand of more than 200,000 households. The facility leverages existing underground salt caverns to create grid-scale energy storage, a solution that repurposes retired mining infrastructure while addressing one of renewable energy’s biggest challenges: inconsistent output. During periods of low grid demand, excess electricity is used to compress air and store it underground; when demand peaks, the compressed air is released to drive turbines, delivering reliable power to the grid.

    This innovative storage project is just one example of the rapid progress China has made in renewable energy development in recent years. Driven by continuous technological innovation, renewable energy installations accounted for more than half of China’s total national power generating capacity by 2025, crossing a historic milestone that has accelerated the global clean energy transition. In Tai’an specifically, new renewable energy technologies are not only rolling out novel energy storage models, they are also strengthening the grid’s capacity to integrate variable renewable output, guaranteeing a stable and secure energy supply for local residents and industries. An official from the dispatching center of State Grid Tai’an Power Supply Company explained that the authority has streamlined grid integration services, actively monitoring demand fluctuations and providing end-to-end technical support for project commissioning and grid connection. Projections show that Tai’an’s total installed capacity of new-type energy storage will reach nearly 5 million kilowatts by 2030.

    Across Shandong, another groundbreaking clean energy milestone went into operation late last year: the world’s largest 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine, fully independently developed by China’s Dongfang Electric Corporation, has been successfully connected to the grid in Shandong’s coastal waters. The turbine sets new global records for both single-unit power generation capacity and rotor diameter. Under full-load operation, a single rotation of the turbine produces 62 kilowatt-hours of electricity. At an average wind speed of 10 meters per second, one turbine can generate 100 million kilowatt-hours of clean power annually enough to supply 55,000 households with electricity. This output translates to an annual reduction of 30,000 metric tons of standard coal consumption and 80,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

    Beyond Shandong, similar integrated clean energy projects are emerging across China, including clean energy-powered data centers under development in the country’s northwest and southwest regions. These projects allow China to expand its fast-growing digital economy while simultaneously cutting carbon emissions, aligning two key national development goals.

    China’s push for clean energy is guided by ambitious national climate pledges. In September 2025, China reaffirmed its commitment to cut net greenhouse gas emissions across the entire national economy by 7 to 10 percent below peak levels by 2035. To meet this target, the country has already passed a critical threshold: total installed capacity of renewable energy now exceeds that of coal-fired power.

    As China builds out its domestic clean energy infrastructure, it is also sharing the benefits of its technological advancements with the global community. At the Solar and Storage Live Africa 2026 exhibition held in Johannesburg this past March, photovoltaic equipment and smart energy solutions developed by Chinese companies drew extensive international attention. Qhakazile Mathebula, general manager for digital energy at South Africa’s City Power, praised the contributions of Chinese firms to Africa’s ongoing energy transition. “We welcome the participation of Chinese renewable energy companies, whose investments and technologies are helping accelerate Africa’s shift toward cleaner and more sustainable energy,” Mathebula said, noting that China’s ability to deliver cost-effective, scalable solutions is particularly critical for African nations working to expand universal energy access and resolve persistent energy supply constraints.

    From repurposed underground storage facilities to record-breaking offshore wind turbines, China’s accelerating clean energy transition is not only transforming its own energy landscape but also creating new opportunities for sustainable development across the globe.

  • 1 killed, 2 injured in fire beneath bridge on Panama Canal

    1 killed, 2 injured in fire beneath bridge on Panama Canal

    A deadly blaze erupted on Monday beneath the Bridge of the Americas, the iconic crossing spanning the Panama Canal near Panama City, leaving one person dead and two others hospitalized with injuries, according to international wire service reporting from the Central American nation.

    The fire broke out involving multiple fuel trucks parked or operating under the bridge, triggering an emergency response from local safety and law enforcement authorities. Details of the fire’s origin and the identities of the casualties have not yet been released to the public as of Monday’s update.

    Located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, the Bridge of the Americas is a critical piece of transportation infrastructure connecting North and South America, as well as facilitating overland access across the canal itself. The incident has raised preliminary questions about safety protocols for fuel storage and transport near major canal infrastructure, though no disruptions to canal operations have been reported in the initial wake of the tragedy.

    The Spanish news agency EFE first reported the casualty toll, with the update published by Xinhua on April 7, 2026. Local emergency teams have not yet issued a full statement on how the fire started or the extent of damage to the bridge structure, beyond confirmation of the human cost of the incident.

  • Early catkin season heightens fire and allergy risks

    Early catkin season heightens fire and allergy risks

    Across northern China and the Yellow-Huaihe River Valley, the annual spring phenomenon of poplar and willow catkin dispersal has kicked off earlier than the historical average this year, bringing extended periods of floating white fluff that is set to last through most of April and elevating dual risks of allergic reactions and wildfire outbreaks.

    According to Weather China, the official meteorological platform operated by the China Meteorological Administration, unseasonably early warming that pushed regional temperatures to around 20 degrees Celsius triggered catkin release one to two days ahead of the 2025 timeline. In major northern urban centers Beijing and Tianjin, the catkin season is scheduled to commence between Monday and Thursday this week, with warm, arid, and windy conditions forecast to push catkin concentrations to their peak in mid-April. Unlike regions further south, this area will see catkins remain in the air well into May, creating a months-long period of elevated risk for residents.

    Many people mistake the floating white fluff for flower blossoms, but it is actually the fibrous seed dispersal structure of mature poplar and willow trees, designed to carry tiny seeds on wind currents. While the fibers themselves are not the main trigger of seasonal allergies, they act as a mobile carrier for common irritants including pollen, fine dust, and airborne fungi. For residents with sensitivities, this often leads to uncomfortable allergic reactions ranging from persistent sneezing and runny noses to itchy, inflamed eyes.

    Li Yuan, deputy chief physician at the China Meteorological Administration Hospital, has outlined clear precautionary guidance for the public to minimize exposure during high-catkin periods. She advises residents to use tightly fitted face masks and protective eyewear such as goggles or oversized sunglasses when outside, to block irritants from entering the respiratory tract and eyes. After returning indoors, she recommends rinsing nasal passages with saline solution and thoroughly washing the face and eye area to remove any trapped irritants and reduce irritation.

    To further cut down on exposure, Weather China recommends avoiding unnecessary outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the window when catkin concentrations are highest in the air. Individuals with asthma or severe seasonal allergies are specifically advised to stay away from low-lying areas where catkins accumulate in dense drifting drifts.

    Beyond health risks, catkins also present a major underrecognized fire hazard, due to their oily fiber composition and large surface-to-volume ratio that makes them extremely flammable. Even a tiny open flame can ignite catkins, leading to extraordinarily rapid combustion. Meteorological researchers note that experiments confirm a 1-square-meter patch of accumulated catkins can be fully engulfed in flames in less than two seconds, and fire can spread quickly from catkins to nearby dry grass, parked vehicles, and even building exteriors, posing a major threat to urban and suburban fire safety.

  • Slow moving traffic convoys protest against fuel prices in Ireland

    Slow moving traffic convoys protest against fuel prices in Ireland

    Widespread slow-moving protest convoys against skyrocketing fuel prices have descended on major highways across the Republic of Ireland, triggering traffic disruptions that have forced police and travel officials to issue urgent warnings for motorists.

    Irish national police, known as Gardaí, have urged all drivers to build extra time into their travel schedules this week, noting that organized protest convoys are currently operating at multiple locations along key arterial routes leading into Dublin and surrounding major population centers. The protests have spread across several counties, with confirmed activity reported on a high number of primary roadways: M6 Junction 7 near Moate in County Westmeath, M8 Junction 4 outside Urlingford in County Offaly, the N52 running through Tullamore, County Offaly, areas surrounding Portlaoise in County Laois, M6 Junction 18 in Athenry, County Galway, eastbound M3 approaching Junction 8 in Navan, eastbound M4 at Junction 8 in Kilcock, County Kildare, eastbound M7 approaching Junction 13 at Kildare Village, and stretches of the M7 close to Limerick city. Near Limerick alone, an estimated 200 vehicles including trucks and agricultural tractors are blocking both directions of the highway with their slow-moving demonstration.

    Gardaí have deployed officers to manage traffic flow on the Republic of Ireland’s busiest routes, including the M1, N2, N3, N4, N7 and N11. Dublin Airport has also issued a separate advisory for air passengers, warning that journeys to the terminal may face unexpected delays and urging travelers to arrive prepared for potential disruption.

    The grassroots protests come in response to a dramatic surge in Irish fuel prices driven by geopolitical upheaval in the Middle East. Around 20% of global oil supplies — the core raw material for both petrol and diesel production — have been taken off the market following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for energy trade. As of this week, average fuel prices across the Republic of Ireland have climbed to €2.14 (£1.86) per litre for diesel and €1.91 (£1.66) per litre for petrol, with some remote or rural regions recording even higher price points.

    In response to growing public anger over the cost of energy, Irish Deputy Prime Minister, titled Tánaiste, Simon Harris has scheduled a dedicated emergency meeting for Wednesday to address the spiraling fuel crisis and discuss potential policy responses.

  • Construction of solar thermal power plant at altitude of 4,550 meters starts in China’s Xizang

    Construction of solar thermal power plant at altitude of 4,550 meters starts in China’s Xizang

    On April 7, 2026, state-owned energy developer China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) announced that construction has officially commenced on a landmark 50 megawatt trough-based concentrated solar thermal power plant, sited at 4,550 meters above sea level in Damxung County, Lhasa, Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. The project forms a core component of a larger integrated solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) complex developed by CGN, which combines the steady, dispatchable power generation capacity of concentrated solar thermal (CSP) technology with the high output efficiency of utility-scale PV panels.

    Located on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, the site benefits from exceptional solar irradiance levels year-round, a key natural advantage for utility-scale solar energy development. However, the extreme altitude also presents unique engineering and construction challenges, including low atmospheric pressure, lower oxygen levels for construction crews, and extreme temperature fluctuations that require specialized materials and design adaptations.

    When completed, the project is expected to set a new global record for the highest-altitude utility-scale CSP plant currently in operation. It will also strengthen Xizang’s commitment to expanding its clean energy capacity, leveraging the region’s abundant renewable resources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support China’s national carbon peaking and neutrality goals. Drone imagery captured on April 6, one day before the official construction launch, showed initial site preparation work underway across the project footprint, with early infrastructure installation progressing on schedule.

  • Sudan drone attacks endanger civilians, strain aid response: UN

    Sudan drone attacks endanger civilians, strain aid response: UN

    As Sudan’s brutal internal conflict approaches its third year, United Nations humanitarian officials have issued a stark warning that escalating drone attacks are killing growing numbers of civilian non-combatants, destroying critical public infrastructure, and pushing an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis to new depths.

    In its latest public briefing, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that drone strikes have increasingly targeted densely populated civilian areas and healthcare facilities — core protected sites under international humanitarian law — severely limiting local communities’ access to life-sustaining essential services.

    One of the deadliest recent incidents took place last Thursday in Sudan’s White Nile State, where a drone attack on Al-Jabalain Hospital left 10 health workers dead and 22 more injured, according to on-ground reports. The strike forced an immediate shutdown of most medical operations at the facility, leaving tens of thousands of local residents without access to routine and emergency care.

    In a weekend social media statement, Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, reiterated the global body’s demand for full protection of medical personnel and facilities. He emphasized that binding international humanitarian law mandates unwavering safeguards for healthcare systems operating in conflict zones. OCHA officials added that the Al-Jabalain Hospital attack is not an isolated incident, but part of a sustained pattern of violence against healthcare across Sudan.

    Data from the World Health Organization, verified over the course of the nearly three-year conflict, confirms more than 200 documented attacks on healthcare facilities across the country that have killed over 2,000 people. Just in the first three months of 2026 alone, 13 verified attacks have left 184 people dead and nearly 300 injured.

    Another deadly strike hit civilian areas last Wednesday in Blue Nile State, where drone bombings targeted a public market in the village of Balila and surrounding communities, killing seven civilians according to initial reports.

    Beyond direct casualties, the rapidly escalating insecurity has triggered a new wave of forced displacement. Data from the International Organization for Migration shows that between mid-February and late March 2026, more than 10,000 people fled their homes in Kurmuk locality, with a large share crossing the border into neighboring Ethiopia to seek safety.

    Displaced families that have relocated to Blue Nile’s state capital Ed Damazine currently face acute shortages of food, medical care, and safe shelter, OCHA reports. Vulnerable groups including women and children are at drastically increased risk of gender-based violence and exploitation, while humanitarian aid groups still face major barriers to reaching affected communities in the region.

    Despite the mounting operational and security challenges, UN humanitarian agencies say they have not suspended life-saving work across the country. The UN Sudan Humanitarian Fund has allocated nearly $200 million to deliver critical assistance to approximately 4 million vulnerable Sudanese people to date.

    As the conflict marks its third anniversary, OCHA also noted that more than 1.6 million people have chosen to return to Sudan’s capital Khartoum in recent months, even though unexploded ordnance and widespread damage to public infrastructure continue to pose severe daily risks to returnees. In response, UN agencies are expanding their operational footprint in the capital, including reopening offices that have been closed since the outbreak of fighting in 2023.

    Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters that Pekka Haavisto, Guterres’ personal envoy for Sudan, is currently conducting a series of diplomatic engagements across the region aimed at de-escalating hostilities and protecting civilian populations. Currently based in Nairobi, Haavisto recently held talks with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, following separate negotiations last week with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s army chief and president of the Transitional Sovereign Council.

    Dujarric confirmed that the diplomatic meetings provided a constructive space for dialogue, with all parties exploring tangible, practical pathways to reduce violence and protect civilians. All negotiating parties expressed their willingness to cooperate with the United Nations’ mediation efforts, the spokesperson added.

    “This is encouraging and must swiftly translate into concrete progress towards ending the suffering of all Sudanese people, once and for all,” Dujarric said. He also confirmed that Denise Brown, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, has returned to Khartoum alongside a core operations team to scale up aid delivery, even as most OCHA staff remain based in Port Sudan for security reasons. Multiple UN agencies have now resumed operations in Khartoum after three years of closure.
    “As the three-year mark of hostilities in Sudan approaches, we reiterate our call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access,” Dujarric said. He added that the international response is currently hampered by a severe critical funding gap: Sudan’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requests $2.9 billion to assist more than 20 million vulnerable people across the country, is only 16 percent funded, with just $465 million received by aid organizations to date.

  • Youth personalize tomb offerings

    Youth personalize tomb offerings

    As China’s annual Qingming Festival, the traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day, arrived this year on April 5, a new cultural trend led by China’s Generation Z has breathed fresh, creative life into an ancient ritual: young travelers are flocking to the tombs of celebrated Chinese historical figures, leaving unconventional, deeply personalized offerings that blend modern fan culture with long-held traditions of remembrance.

    For centuries, Qingming Festival has centered on family visits to ancestral graves, where descendants clean burial sites, light incense, and leave traditional offerings of food, incense and ceremonial paper money to honor departed loved ones. This year, however, young Chinese history enthusiasts expanded that tradition beyond family lines, extending their tributes to iconic historical figures whose legacies have captivated modern audiences through pop culture, history books and digital content.

    The trend gained widespread attention after staff at the Cao Cao’s Mausoleum Site Museum in Anyang, Henan, revealed that visitors had left dozens of boxes of ibuprofen and other painkillers at the tomb of Cao Cao, the powerful Three Kingdoms period (220-280 CE) warlord. Historical records have long documented that Cao Cao suffered from chronic, severe headaches, with some modern archaeologists hypothesizing the pain stemmed from undiagnosed dental neuralgia. Rather than discarding the informal tributes, museum staff told reporters they simply arranged the offerings neatly, respecting the visitors’ intent.

    Similar personalized tributes have appeared at tombs across China. At the resting place of Li Bai, the legendary Tang Dynasty (618-900 CE) poet famous for his love of wine, visitors have left bottles of premium Maotai liquor, craft beer, and imported spirits. At the tomb of Zhang Juzheng, a prominent Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) political reformer, hemorrhoid cream appeared as an offering, reflecting widespread popular accounts that the reformer died from complications related to the condition. For Huo Qubing, a Western Han Dynasty general who died at just 23 years old, young visitors left potato chips and spicy street snacks, a nod to his youth that resonates with modern young people.

    Scholars and cultural analysts say the trend is far more than a viral internet gimmick — it reveals a shifting, deeply personal way that Gen Z engages with Chinese history and traditional culture. “Young people are adopting a fan club mindset, treating beloved historical figures the way younger generations treat modern celebrities, to dig into the small, human details of the past,” explained Shi Anbin, a communications professor at Tsinghua University, in an interview with China Daily. “This is a far more personalized way of expressing affection for ancient figures, it’s quite different from how previous generations engaged with history.”

    Shi noted that while playful entertainment is a part of the trend, the core driver is Gen Z’s desire for authentic, individual self-expression. Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, China’s Gen Z prioritizes unique, personal connections over rigid, formal tradition, he said, adding that cultural and tourism institutions could leverage this enthusiasm to create more engaging cultural experiences for young visitors.

    Yang Jinsong, a researcher at the China Tourism Academy, echoed that observation, noting the trend aligns with a broader shift in travel preferences toward experiences that deliver personal emotional fulfillment, rather than strictly following formal traditions. “People want to project their own feelings onto ancient figures and establish a modern, personal connection with them,” he said.

    However, Yang also raised constructive concerns about the growing volume of physical offerings, pointing to potential safety hazards and negative environmental impacts from accumulated items left at heritage sites. To address this, he suggested cultural institutions develop alternative, structured interactive experiences that channel young people’s enthusiasm without the need for physical offerings. Ideas include historical role-playing activities, live-action mystery games set around historical events, or themed edible products tied to famous historical figures. “If we provide better, more engaging products, visitors may not feel the need to leave physical items,” he explained.

    Both analysts agree that when guided thoughtfully, this grassroots trend represents a unique opportunity to make Chinese history more accessible and engaging for younger generations. “This is a natural communication phenomenon of the digital age,” Shi said. “With proper guidance, it can bring history to life in a fun and deeply engaging way for a new generation.”

  • Outbreak of measles kills 100 kids in Bangladesh

    Outbreak of measles kills 100 kids in Bangladesh

    A resurgent measles outbreak in Bangladesh has claimed the lives of approximately 100 children and triggered more than 7,500 suspected infections across the country, prompting health authorities to roll out an urgent mass immunization campaign targeting high-risk communities. Official data released ahead of the campaign launch on Sunday confirms the rapid spread of the vaccine-preventable disease, which had been on the brink of elimination in the South Asian nation for nearly two decades.

    The emergency campaign, inaugurated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain at a public health facility near the capital Dhaka, will prioritize more than 1 million children aged six months to five years across 18 hard-hit districts that have recorded the highest infection rates. Following this targeted push, a national measles-rubella vaccination initiative will roll out to all remaining districts starting May 3, with 30 of the most severely affected localities already rolling out immunization services ahead of the official schedule.

    Discrepancies in official death figures reflect gaps in diagnostic access across the country: the ministry has confirmed 17 measles-linked deaths, with 113 additional suspected deaths. Of the total suspected infections, more than 6,400 are recorded in children under five, the age group most vulnerable to life-threatening complications from the disease. Public health officials note that most unconfirmed deaths occurred before patients could receive diagnostic testing, meaning the actual death toll is likely closer to the 100 suspected fatalities currently cited.

    “Compared with past years, the number of affected children is higher, and the death toll is higher too,” explained Halimur Rashid, director of Bangladesh’s Communicable Disease Control unit, in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

    Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Bangladesh saw its largest recorded measles outbreak in 2005, with nearly 26,000 suspected cases. After that peak, case numbers dropped steadily for nearly 20 years, hitting historic lows before the 2026 resurgence.

    Health experts point to a mix of interconnected factors that allowed the outbreak to take hold. Rashid cited systemic gaps including widespread vaccine shortages, while other public health leaders note that a scheduled 2024 national measles vaccination drive was delayed by widespread political unrest that ultimately led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.

    Officials add another layer of vulnerability: while the national immunization schedule recommends a first measles dose at nine months of age, a large share of the recent infections have occurred in infants as young as six months, who have not yet been scheduled for vaccination.

    Mahmudur Rahman, head of the National Verification Committee of Measles and Rubella, acknowledged that the country missed a key public health target set years prior: “We committed to reducing the number [of measles cases] to zero by December 2025 but failed to achieve the target due to poor vaccination programs.”

    Tajul Islam A. Bari, a former senior official with Bangladesh’s Expanded Programme on Immunization and a leading public health expert, said institutional missteps contributed directly to the crisis. “Although funds had been allocated for vaccine purchases, authorities had failed to procure them,” Bari explained. “Now we see the result — the situation is scary.”

    The Bangladesh outbreak aligns with a global trend of rising measles cases and deaths in recent years. The WHO’s latest 2024 global data estimates that as many as 95,000 people died from measles that year, the vast majority unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under five.

    As defined by the WHO, measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases on Earth, spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While it can infect people of any age, it disproportionately affects young children and can cause severe life-threatening complications including brain swelling and acute respiratory distress. No targeted antiviral treatment exists for measles after infection, making preventive vaccination the only effective public health intervention to stop outbreaks.

  • Thailand’s new coalition govt sworn in

    Thailand’s new coalition govt sworn in

    BANGKOK – A new chapter in Thailand’s national governance officially began this week, as the country’s freshly formed coalition government, headed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, completed its formal swearing-in ceremony on Monday evening. The inauguration followed a royal endorsement granted to the new administration one week prior, clearing the final ceremonial hurdle for the incoming leadership.

    The 35-member cabinet took part in time-honored constitutional traditions, gathering at Bangkok’s Dusit Palace to recite the official oath of allegiance during an audience with King Maha Vajiralongkorn. In addition to Prime Minister Anutin, all seven deputy prime ministers, alongside full cabinet ministers and their respective deputies, were in attendance for the historic ceremony.

    Shortly after the formal inauguration concluded at the royal palace, Anutin traveled to Thailand’s government house to lead the first extraordinary cabinet meeting of the new administration. In the coming days, the prime minister is scheduled to deliver his administration’s official policy statement to the national parliament. This address marks the last procedural requirement before the new government can fully take up its governing duties and begin implementing its policy agenda.

    Anutin, the 59-year-old leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, secured a second term as prime minister of the Southeast Asian nation after winning a parliamentary confidence vote held in March. His victory cleared the way for negotiations to form the ruling coalition that has now officially taken office.

  • Tragedy revisited

    Tragedy revisited

    One year after a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake tore through central Myanmar, leaving thousands dead and billions of dollars in destruction, the nation has gathered to honor the lives lost and reflect on ongoing recovery work. The official commemoration ceremony was hosted in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar’s national capital, and broadcast by state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television on Sunday.

    Addressing attendees, Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing opened the event by extending heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed and affected by the disaster. He spoke of the widespread grief over the thousands of lives cut short and the irreversible loss of personal and public property across the impacted regions.

    Min Aung Hlaing went on to detail the full scale of the destruction the earthquake left in its wake. The tremor, which struck on March 28, 2025, rippled across 10 of Myanmar’s administrative regions and states, including the capital Nay Pyi Taw. Official casualty counts confirm 3,818 people lost their lives in the disaster, while an additional 5,104 people suffered injuries ranging from minor to life-altering. In total, more than 160,000 households saw their homes damaged or destroyed, leaving over 420,000 people displaced or otherwise impacted by the event. Preliminary economic assessments put total infrastructure, property and cultural damage at more than 7,979 billion kyats, equivalent to roughly $3.79 billion. One of the most visible symbols of the destruction, captured in international press imagery, was a centuries-old Buddha statue reduced to rubble in Mandalay, the earthquake’s hardest-hit urban center.

    Beyond commemorating the lives lost, the acting president emphasized that national rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts remain ongoing, with the government prioritizing the safe return of displaced residents and the rebuilding of critical public infrastructure damaged in the tremor.