Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 3,000 as Rescue Efforts Continue
BANGKOK – The devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar nearly a week ago has claimed over 3,085 lives, with the death toll continuing to rise as search and rescue teams recover more bodies from the rubble, according to the country’s military-led government. The crisis has intensified as thousands remain injured or missing, while humanitarian groups race to provide medical aid and shelter to survivors.
In a statement released Thursday, Myanmar’s military authorities reported that 4,715 people have been injured, and 341 remain unaccounted for.
The massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which struck on March 28 near Mandalay—Myanmar’s second-largest city—has left widespread destruction in its wake. Thousands of buildings have crumbled, major roads have buckled, and critical bridges have collapsed across multiple regions, exacerbating the challenges for emergency responders.
Rising Casualties and Infrastructure Collapse
Local media reports suggest that the actual death toll could be much higher than official figures, as vast areas remain inaccessible due to disrupted telecommunications and impassable roads. Experts warn that the number of casualties could continue to increase as rescue teams reach more remote areas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported significant damage to the healthcare system, stating that four hospitals and one health center were completely destroyed, while another 32 hospitals and 18 health centers sustained partial damage.
“With infrastructure compromised and patient numbers surging, access to healthcare has become nearly impossible in many of the worst-hit areas,” the United Nations said in a statement. “Thousands of people are in urgent need of trauma care, surgical interventions, and treatment for disease outbreaks.”
International Aid and Humanitarian Response
More than 1,550 international rescuers have joined local teams in an urgent effort to locate survivors and provide relief. Seventeen countries have sent emergency supplies, with a mobile hospital from India and a joint Russian-Belarusian medical team now operational in Mandalay.
With thousands left homeless, and many more fearful of returning to unstable buildings, makeshift shelters have been erected in open fields. In Naypyitaw, relief workers labored under scorching 40°C (104°F) temperatures to set up large tents for displaced families. In Mandalay, local residents offered slices of watermelon to Chinese volunteers working in the blistering heat.
Political Tensions and Ceasefire Amidst the Crisis
The earthquake has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar, where over 3 million people had already been displaced due to ongoing civil conflict before the disaster struck. Nearly 20 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance even prior to the quake, according to the United Nations.
Concerns have been raised that the ongoing armed conflict could disrupt relief efforts. In response, Myanmar’s military junta announced a temporary ceasefire through April 22, claiming it would facilitate humanitarian operations. However, the military warned that it would still take “necessary” actions against resistance groups if they used the ceasefire to regroup, train, or launch attacks.
Despite the announcement, local media reported continued military strikes in Kachin State, a region in northern Myanmar, on Thursday. Independent verification of these reports remains difficult. Prior to the earthquake, the military had been engaged in fierce battles with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a key ethnic resistance force. The KIA also declared a ceasefire on Wednesday but asserted its right to defend itself if provoked. The extent of earthquake damage in Kachin remains unclear.
Bangkok Tragedy: Collapsed Skyscraper Search Continues
The earthquake’s impact was also felt beyond Myanmar’s borders. In Bangkok, Thailand, the tremor caused the collapse of an unfinished skyscraper, killing 22 people and injuring 35 others. Search-and-rescue teams combed through the debris on Thursday after reports suggested possible sounds of life beneath the wreckage. However, by day’s end, no survivors had been found.
As Myanmar reels from one of the deadliest earthquakes in its history, the race against time continues to rescue those still trapped, provide medical aid, and rebuild shattered communities. With the ongoing civil conflict complicating relief efforts, the coming days will be critical in determining the scale of the humanitarian response and the fate of thousands left in the wake of this disaster.
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Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 3,000 as Rescue Efforts Continue