King Charles sends ‘deepest possible sympathy’ to Myanmar after earthquake

In his first statement since he was briefly hospitalized on March 27, Charles said that he was 'shocked and saddened to learn of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar.'

King Charles III sent his “deepest possible sympathy” to the victims of Myanmar’s powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed over 1,600 people.

The powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on March 28, destroying buildings, a bridge and a dam. The military government said Saturday that 1,644 people have been killed, with thousands of others injured and dozens missing.

In his first statement since he was briefly hospitalized earlier this week, Charles, 76, and his wife Queen Camilla expressed concern and sadness for the victims of the tragedy.

“To the people of Myanmar, my wife and I were most dreadfully shocked and saddened to learn of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, with its tragic loss of life and appalling damage to homes, buildings and livelihoods, not to mention the destruction of sacred pagodas, monasteries and other places of worship,” the statement began.

“I know that the people of Myanmar continue to endure so much hardship and tragedy in your lives, and I have long admired your extraordinary resilience and spirit,” he continued.

“At this most difficult and heartbreaking of times, my wife and I send our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have suffered the profound tragedy of losing their loved ones, their homes and their previous livelihoods,” Charles concluded his statement, before signing it, “Charles R.”

Charles was briefly hospitalized for observation on March 27 after experiencing “temporary side effects’’ related to a scheduled cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.