Kuwait City, Kuwait, March 30, 2025: The Olympic Council of Asia will be asking delegates at the upcoming regional forums to observe a minute’s silence for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar that also affected Thailand.
The OCA, in coordination with the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity, will conduct regional forums in Bhutan on April 2-3 and in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on April 6-7 for their 45 National Olympic Committees.
The forum in Bhutan will be especially significant as it will involve representatives from Southeast Asian National Olympic Committees, including Myanmar and Thailand.
“The Olympic Council of Asia is shocked and saddened by the terrible earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, March 28,” said the OCA’s Deputy Director General, Mr. Vinod Kumar Tiwari.
“We will be holding a minute’s silence at the start of each regional forum to mourn the victims and to show our support to the two countries.
“Myanmar and Thailand are two important members of the OCA and we send our deepest condolences to everyone who has been affected by the tragedy.
“The images coming out of both countries are truly shocking and upsetting, and our regional forums will give all our National Olympic Committees the chance to share their grief and show their support for our friends and colleagues in Myanmar and Thailand.”
On Friday, March 28, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, with an epicenter close to Mandalay, the country's second largest city.
It was the most powerful earthquake to strike Myanmar since 1912 and caused extensive damage in Myanmar and significant damage in neighboring Thailand.
The earthquake has resulted in more than 1,600 deaths in Myanmar and 17 in Thailand, with many more missing.