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April 9th, 2025

Natural disasters have struck with unrelenting force in recent weeks, leaving communities in Thargomindah, Australia, and Southeast Asia grappling with loss and recovery. From record-breaking floods in outback Queensland to a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, the impacts are profound, raising questions about resilience, transparency, and global support. Here’s the latest on these crises, focusing on how local governments, communities, and other entities are stepping up to help themselves and each other.

Thargomindah Floods: A Slow Recovery Amidst Livestock Devastation

In southwest Queensland, the small town of Thargomindah has been battling record floods since late March 2025, with the Bulloo River reaching 6.95 meters by April 1, surpassing its 1974 peak of 6.78 meters. Initially reported on April 4, the floods have devastated the region, wiping out over 100,000 cattle and sheep across outback Queensland—an area twice the size of Victoria. In Thargomindah, residents faced isolation as floodwaters cut off roads, forcing supplies to be flown in. The town’s airport became a refuge, hosting a makeshift hospital, while many moved to higher ground. The Bulloo Shire Council constructed a levee bank to protect the town, but nearby Eulo saw levees breached, leading to evacuations.

Local Efforts and Community Response: As of April 9, 2025, floodwaters in Thargomindah are receding, offering some relief after the peak earlier this month, according to local news reports. The Bulloo Shire Council has been proactive, coordinating the delivery of supplies to isolated communities and farms via air, with helicopters on standby for potential evacuations that may not have been necessary if the levee held. Acting chief executive Tamie Warner emphasized the community’s resilience, noting that residents are accustomed to isolation and have rallied together, using the airport as a hub for medical care and shelter. Local graziers, despite the loss of over 100,000 livestock, are accessing disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000 and freight subsidies of $5,000 to move stock, alongside grants of up to $5,300 for families to replace essentials, as provided by the Queensland government. However, these measures may not fully address the long-term economic impact on the region’s agricultural sector.

Critical Perspective: The narrative of Thargomindah’s resilience, while inspiring, risks overshadowing the ongoing struggles of graziers, who face financial ruin without more immediate, substantial relief beyond loans. The lack of updated livestock loss figures raises questions about transparency—why hasn’t the Queensland government provided a clearer picture of the damage? Additionally, the broader region’s inadequate infrastructure, as noted by graziers, highlights a systemic failure to prepare outback communities for such disasters. While the levee efforts in Thargomindah show local preparedness, the absence of detailed recovery updates suggests a gap in communication, leaving rural communities vulnerable and underreported.

Southeast Asia Earthquake: Rising Toll and Humanitarian Challenges

On March 28, 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, causing widespread devastation across Southeast Asia. Initially reported on March 29, the quake killed over 1,600 in Myanmar, with 3,400 injured and hundreds missing. In Bangkok, Thailand, a 33-story skyscraper under construction collapsed, killing at least nine and leaving dozens missing. Mandalay saw collapsed buildings, fires, and damaged infrastructure, including roads, dams, and highways. Myanmar’s civil war, ongoing since the 2021 coup, complicated rescue efforts, with internet censorship and weak infrastructure hindering aid. Thailand declared Bangkok an emergency zone, with evacuations and transportation disruptions.

Local and Regional Efforts: As of April 9, 2025, the death toll in Myanmar has risen to 3,354, with 4,850 injured and 220 missing, according to Myanmar state media (MRTV) on April 5. In Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reports 23 deaths, with 15 from the skyscraper collapse, and 72 missing. In Myanmar, the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) and its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force, announced a two-week suspension of offensive military operations starting March 30 to facilitate relief efforts, a move echoed by the Three Brotherhood Alliance with a one-month humanitarian pause except for defensive actions. Local civil society organizations, such as the Chindwin Medical and Humanitarian Network, have set up mobile health clinics, food and water distribution, and emergency shelters in Sagaing, though security concerns limit operations in Mandalay. The Myanmar Earthquake Response Coordination Unit, largely Thai-based, is working with volunteers on the ground to deliver aid, focusing on areas outside junta control.

In Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has led rescue efforts, using drones, sniffer dogs, and cranes to search for survivors, finding 15 people alive but trapped in the State Audit Office building rubble by March 29. The government is investigating the skyscraper collapse, with initial tests showing substandard steel samples, and has resumed MRT Blue, Purple, and Yellow Lines by March 30, though the Pink Line’s Min Buri station remains closed due to a dislocated power rail. Oxfam and its partners in Myanmar are distributing lifesaving water, blankets, and hygiene kits within 72 hours of the quake, despite challenges from destroyed infrastructure and heavy rains increasing public health risks like diarrhea.

International and NGO Support: The United Nations and European Union are providing support, with the EU delivering €2.5 million and emergency supplies. The Red Cross reports many sleeping in open spaces, lacking shelter, and facing waterborne disease risks, and has released 2 million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) in emergency funds. The UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) raised £7.5 million on its first day, with the UK government matching public donations up to £5 million. DEC charities like World Vision are delivering water purification and emergency supplies. In Thailand, Veterinarians Without Borders North America is conducting needs assessments with local veterinary partners to support livestock in affected areas, while Shelterbox USA is providing emergency shelter and non-food items to displaced families in Bangkok.

Critical Perspective: The junta’s reported death toll of 3,354 is significantly lower than U.S. Geological Survey estimates of 10,000+, raising serious concerns about transparency. Myanmar’s restricted media access and internet censorship, a tactic to suppress dissent since the 2021 coup, likely obscure the true scale of the disaster. The ceasefire by resistance groups is a step forward, but the junta’s continued airstrikes—53 attacks post-quake, including on an aid convoy, as reported by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army—suggest relief may not reach all affected areas, particularly in rebel-controlled regions. Local efforts by the NUG and civil society are commendable, but the junta’s blocking of aid, as reported by doctors and the International Rescue Committee, exacerbates the crisis. In Thailand, the focus on Bangkok’s skyscraper collapse overshadows rural impacts, and the quick resumption of MRT lines might downplay ongoing safety concerns, reflecting a prioritization of urban recovery over broader needs.

Demanding Clarity and Support in Disaster Recovery

These crises—Thargomindah’s floods and Southeast Asia’s earthquake—underscore the urgent need for transparency in disaster reporting and equitable aid distribution. In Thargomindah, the lack of detailed updates on livestock losses and recovery efforts leaves graziers in limbo, while in Myanmar, the junta’s control over information and aid distribution obscures the full extent of the tragedy, delaying critical support. Local communities, resistance groups, and NGOs are stepping up, but systemic barriers like inadequate infrastructure and political conflict hinder their efforts. As we advocate for justice, we must demand better support for rural communities and unhindered humanitarian access in conflict zones. What can we do to support these regions in their recovery? Share your thoughts!

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Key Citations

• Bulloo Shire Council
• Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
• U.S. Geological Survey: Earthquake Data
• United Nations: Humanitarian Response
• European Union: Humanitarian Aid
• National Unity Government of Myanmar
• Red Cross: Myanmar Earthquake Response
• International Rescue Committee: Myanmar Response
• Oxfam: Myanmar Earthquake Appeal
• Disasters Emergency Committee: Myanmar Earthquake Appeal
• Shelterbox USA
• Veterinarians Without Borders North America