Published
On 28 March 2025, Myanmar was rocked by a powerful earthquake that left widespread destruction in its wake. Communities across the country, already grappling with ongoing challenges, were plunged into a new crisis as homes crumbled, families were displaced, and livelihoods vanished overnight.
In Kay Lar Village near Inlay Lake in Nyaungshwe, one man’s harrowing experience captures the heartbreak and resilience of those living through this disaster. This is the story of 61-year-old U San Win.
On the day the earthquake struck, U San Win was mourning the loss of his grandchild, attending the funeral ceremony with family and friends. What should have been a solemn moment of remembrance turned into chaos.
“I started to feel the ground shaking,” he recalls. “Then, everything began to collapse around us. My friends and I had to jump out of the window to escape.”
What he saw when he emerged haunts him still.
“Everything had been destroyed. I couldn’t bear to look. I covered my eyes with my hands to block out the heartbreaking scene.”
With devastation all around, U San Win’s first instinct was to find his wife and grandchildren, who were at home. He took a boat to reach them, but what he found was not a home anymore – it had collapsed into the water.
“They had fallen in along with our house,” he says. “They were soaked and covered in mud. When I arrived, they were standing on a wooden board, their faces full of fear, in front of what used to be our home.”
While he escaped physical injury, his wife was not so lucky – she sustained injuries to her ribs during the collapse.
Villagers collecting remaining materials around their destroyed houses in Kay Lar Village, Inlay, Nyaungshwe.
Now displaced, U San Win and his family are staying at his elder daughter’s house, along with two other families. The space is cramped, the living conditions far from safe, and the uncertainty looms large.
U San WinWe’re grateful for food donations, but what we really need is help rebuilding - support for our livelihoods and a proper place to live again.
Despite having access to clean water, they lack basic sanitation and hygiene facilities, which adds another layer of hardship to their daily lives.
The emotional toll is immense. U San Win’s voice is heavy when he describes how the village he once called home now feels unfamiliar.
“I can barely go up the stairs on my own. I feel unsafe. I’m always worried about another earthquake. I feel sad and don’t want to walk around my village because I can’t bear to see the heartbreaking scenes. It will never be the same.”
His livelihood has also been upended. A farmer by trade, he has not been able to return to his work. The support systems that once existed – neighbours helping neighbours – have vanished under the weight of collective loss.
“Before, we could borrow from each other, share food. Now, no one has anything left to give. We are all suffering.”
Though weary, U San Win still holds on to a glimmer of hope. “If we have a place to live, we can work for our daily food,” he says. “I just wish everything can be settled soon.”
He is deeply grateful for the food and water provided by charity groups, but says they also urgently need waterproof sheets to protect them from natural elements, and support to rebuild their homes and lives.
U San Win’s story is just one among thousands in Myanmar. Yet it is a powerful reminder that in the face of unimaginable loss, people continue to hold on – to family, to dignity, and to the hope of rebuilding.
For communities like Kay Lar Village, recovery will take time, support, and solidarity. But with the right help, people like U San Win can begin to rebuild – not just their homes, but their futures.
