Myanmar quake: Imam's grief for 170 killed as they prayed in Sagaing

In Myanmar, a devastating earthquake struck while many people were engaged in prayer. This tragic event occurred in the city of Sagaing, where Soe Nay Oo, a former imam, experienced profound sorrow as he learned of the loss of numerous friends and family members. After fleeing Myanmar due to a coup in 2021, he had been living in Thailand. On a Friday, as the holy month of Ramadan was nearing its end, hundreds of Muslims gathered at their mosques for their final prayers. Suddenly, at 12:51 PM local time, the earthquake hit. Three mosques collapsed, including the largest one, Myoma, resulting in the deaths of nearly everyone inside. Soe Nay Oo, who felt the tremors even from his location in Thailand, later discovered that around 170 individuals he knew had perished, most of them while praying. He expressed his grief, stating, 'I think about all the people who lost their lives, and the victims' children - some of them are young children. ' His tears flowed as he recounted the tragedy. The earthquake was powerful, claiming the lives of over 2,700 people, and the death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continue to search for bodies beneath the debris. Sagaing and Mandalay, another significant city, are renowned for their ancient Buddhist temples, but they also have a substantial Muslim population. According to the country's leader, Min Aung Hlaing, approximately 500 Muslims died while praying in their mosques. Eyewitnesses reported that Myoma Street, where the mosques were situated, suffered the most damage. Many homes in the area also collapsed, leaving countless individuals homeless. Many are now living on the streets, either because they have lost their homes or are too frightened to return due to the threat of aftershocks. Food supplies are dwindling, and the situation is dire. In the Myoma mosque alone, more than 60 people were reported to have been crushed in the collapse, with more bodies being discovered in the days that followed. Soe Nay Oo received accounts from survivors indicating that some worshippers attempted to escape the falling structures. He noted, 'There were bodies found outside of the main prayer hall, in the area where worshippers wash themselves. ' Some individuals were discovered holding hands, seemingly trying to help one another escape the crumbling building. Images sent to Soe Nay Oo depicted the Myoma mosque in ruins, with only a blue and yellow wall still standing amidst the wreckage of broken concrete and metal. Among the many loved ones Soe Nay Oo lost was one of his wife's cousins, whose death he described as 'the most painful thing that I have endured' in his 13 years as an imam. He shared, 'She was the one who showed her love to us the most. ' Another cousin, a respected businessman who had completed the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, also perished. Soe Nay Oo fondly recalled, 'He always called me Nyi Lay, which means little brother in Burmese. ' He felt as though he had lost a brother. Additionally, he mourned the loss of a close friend who had served as his assistant imam, known for his strong work ethic and remarkable talent in reciting the Quran. The principal of the local public school, who was the only female trustee of the Myoma mosque, also died. Soe Nay Oo remembered her as a generous person who often funded mosque programs out of her own pocket. Each time he hears of another community member who has died, he experiences a fresh wave of grief. 'I feel devastated… it always comes to my mind, the memories I cherish of them,' he said. The fact that these individuals died during Ramadan weighs heavily on him. 'All the departed have returned to Allah's home, I would say. They will be remembered as martyrs accordingly,' he reflected. The community is grappling with the overwhelming number of bodies to be dealt with. The situation is complicated by ongoing conflicts between the military junta and resistance groups. The Muslim cemetery in Sagaing is located near an area controlled by the rebel People's Defence Forces (PDF) and has been closed to the public for several years. Consequently, the Muslim community in Sagaing has had to transport the bodies of their deceased to Mandalay, crossing the Irrawaddy River via the only bridge connecting the two cities, as Soe Nay Oo explained. Their bodies are being temporarily held at Mandalay's largest mosque for burial. Some have not been buried within the 24-hour period required by Islamic tradition. 'For Muslims, it is the saddest thing, that we cannot bury our families by ourselves at the end of their journey,' he lamented. Survivors are attempting to assist in the rescue efforts, even as they cope with their own trauma. 'Some from my community told me to pray for them. To be honest, they couldn't even describe their loss in words when I speak to them. ' Soe Nay Oo feels a deep sense of guilt for not being with his former congregation during the earthquake. 'If I were the imam still, at the time of the quake, I would have gone with them – that I can accept peacefully. If not, at least I could be on the ground to do anything that I can. ' He expressed his pain, saying, 'Now I can't go back. It's painful to think about it. ' Soe Nay Oo began to cry as he shared his feelings. 'This sad and frustrated feeling I have right now, I have never felt this way before in my life. I am the kind of man who would hardly cry. ' He has struggled to sleep for days, and his worry has intensified as he has yet to hear from some family members, including his siblings who were in Mandalay. Soe Nay Oo has paused his work for a human rights group in Thailand and is currently helping to coordinate rescue efforts in Sagaing, sharing any information he can gather from his contacts in the city. He estimates that at least 1,000 Muslims in the area are affected and still require assistance. 'I feel relief only whenever somebody on the ground asks for help, and I can help them,' he said.