Last Friday, as the call to prayer echoed through Sagaing, Myanmar, hundreds of Muslims gathered in their mosques for the final Friday prayer of Ramadan. Just minutes into their prayers, at 12:51 PM local time, a powerful earthquake shook the region, leading to a catastrophic collapse of three mosques, including the largest, Myoma. Almost everyone inside perished.
One of the many left grieving is Soe Nay Oo, the former imam of Myoma Mosque, now living in Thailand. When he heard the news, he was devastated. He later learned that nearly 170 of his friends, relatives, and congregation members had died, many of them respected figures in the Muslim community.
The earthquake, which struck near Sagaing and Mandalay, has claimed over 2,700 lives so far, with the death toll expected to rise. Myoma Street, home to the now-destroyed mosques, was one of the hardest-hit areas. Survivors, now homeless and afraid of aftershocks, have taken refuge along the road with scarce food supplies.
Soe Nay Oo has heard heartbreaking accounts from survivors. Bodies were found outside prayer halls, hands clasped together in an attempt to escape. Among the lost were his close friends, a respected businessman, a school principal, and a beloved assistant imam.
The tragedy is compounded by Myanmar’s political turmoil. With the main Muslim cemetery inaccessible due to ongoing conflict, many bodies are being taken to Mandalay for burial, delaying the traditional Islamic rites.
Haunted by grief and unable to return home, Soe Nay Oo now dedicates himself to coordinating aid and rescue efforts, hoping to bring solace to his shattered community.
