In the aftermath of Myanmar’s deadliest earthquake in over a century, a powerful image emerged from Sagaing: a Buddhist monk standing amid the ruins of the collapsed Myo Ma Mosque, holding hands with a Muslim man. In another widely shared video, the same monk returns to the site, donating money to support rebuilding efforts. The two men embrace — a gesture that, within traditional Burmese Buddhist culture, is uncommon between monks and laypeople, especially across religious lines. But in that moment, amid the devastation, such conventions no longer mattered. The tragedy had stripped away formalities, revealing the shared humanity beneath.
On March 28, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, the strongest seismic event the country has experienced in over a century. It devastated major urban areas, including Mandalay, Sagaing, and Nay Pyi Taw, which were already vulnerable due to years of conflict and displacement. More than 5,000 lives were lost, and nearly 17 million people were affected. Thousands of buildings collapsed — homes, schools, markets, religious sites — and entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. The physical damage is staggering, but the emotional and spiritual trauma is just as deep.
The Myo Ma Mosque in Sagaing, once a hub for religious activity and interfaith engagement, was completely destroyed. Yet in the middle of this loss, something extraordinary happened: A Buddhist monk walked into the mosque’s ruins — not with condemnation or indifference, but with compassion. The act of donating, embracing, and publicly grieving together with Muslim community members sent a strong message: That interfaith solidarity is alive and well in Myanmar, and perhaps even more powerful in times of crisis.