TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The military junta in Myanmar has barred the entry of foreign media representatives from accessing the quake-stricken parts of the country, where the death toll continues to rise, exceeding 1,700 people.
As reported by NDTV, the junta has imposed restrictions, citing accommodation difficulties, power outages, and water shortages. "It is not possible for [foreign journalists] to come, stay, find shelter, or move around here. We want everyone to understand this," said Zaw Min Tun, the regime’s spokesperson, in an audio statement issued on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Local journalists also face strict limitations in Myanmar. The refusal of foreign media entry raises serious concerns about the junta's transparency in responding to the disaster.
Others have accused the junta of obstructing humanitarian aid from reaching certain affected areas not directly under its control. Since the 2021 coup, when the military overthrew the Nobel Peace Prize-winning elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war with various armed opposition groups.
Meanwhile, some media reports also indicate that the junta continues to carry out air strikes in various regions of the country affected by violence and the disaster. Many in the international community demand unrestricted access for aid workers and independent media. The humanitarian crisis is escalating amid the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has caused extensive damage across the country, Myanmar Now reported.
In 2023, photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike was arrested while covering the impact of Cyclone Mocha. He was later sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The Guardian reported that the death toll has risen to more than 2,000 on Monday, with 270 more missing and 3,900 injured, due to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar.
The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported that 36 aftershocks, ranging in magnitudes from 2.8 to 7.5, have occurred until Monday morning. These aftershocks followed the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that devastated Myanmar at 12:51 p.m. local time last Friday.
The earthquake's epicenter was only about 20 km from Mandalay, the country's second-largest city with a population of 1.5 million. The National Disaster Management Committee has declared a state of emergency across Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, northeastern parts of Shan State, the capital Nay Pyi Taw, and Bago Region.
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