BANGKOK. The death toll from the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar nearly a week ago rose to 3,145 on Thursday, as search and rescue teams discovered more bodies, according to the military-led government. Additionally, 4,589 people have been injured, and 221 others remain missing, as reported by Information Minister Maung Maung Ohn during a meeting in the capital, Naypyitaw.
The quake, which occurred on March 28 near Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, destroyed thousands of buildings, buckled roads, and tore down bridges across multiple regions. Local media reports have suggested that the actual number of casualties could be far higher than the official toll, as many areas remain difficult to access due to widespread telecommunications outages. As a result, the numbers are expected to rise as more information becomes available.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a report estimating that the earthquake and its aftershocks have affected more than 17 million people across 57 of Myanmar’s 330 townships, with over 9 million facing severe impacts. “The coming days will be critical in determining the full scale of the disaster’s impact and the response required to meet the needs of millions affected,” the report said.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged the international community to rapidly increase funding for the relief efforts, saying that the earthquake’s impact has intensified the suffering in Myanmar, particularly with the monsoon season approaching. He also called for unimpeded access to assist those in need.
In terms of healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that four hospitals and one health center were completely destroyed, while 32 hospitals and 18 health centers were partially damaged. This has significantly hindered healthcare access in the worst-hit areas. “With infrastructure compromised and patient numbers surging, access to health care has become nearly impossible in many of the worst-hit areas,” the U.N. stated.
To aid in the response, international assistance has been mobilized, including a mobile hospital from India and a joint Russian-Belarusian hospital operating in Mandalay. Furthermore, more than 1,550 international rescuers have joined local efforts to search for survivors and provide necessary aid.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, many survivors have been left homeless, with some too fearful to return to their homes due to ongoing aftershocks. To help, workers in Naypyitaw have been constructing large tents in open fields to provide temporary shelter. In Mandalay, local residents showed their solidarity by offering watermelon slices to Chinese volunteers braving the intense heat.
The earthquake has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar, where more than 3 million people were displaced due to ongoing conflict, and nearly 20 million people were already in need of aid before the disaster. The military, which seized power from the democratically elected government in 2021, declared a temporary ceasefire on Wednesday to help facilitate humanitarian efforts, which will last through April 22. However, reports of continued fighting have emerged in the northern region of Kachin, where the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is active. The KIA also declared a ceasefire on Wednesday but reserved the right to defend itself.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, Myanmar’s military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, made a rare overseas visit on Thursday to attend a regional summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) nations. The summit is being held in Bangkok, where leaders from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are gathered. Min Aung Hlaing’s visit comes as Myanmar continues to search for survivors of the earthquake, and his participation in the summit has sparked strong condemnation from opposition groups in Myanmar, including the National Unity Government (NUG), which decried his legitimacy and called for the revocation of his invitation.
As the situation in Myanmar continues to unfold, global efforts to provide aid and support the affected population remain critical, with more international teams being dispatched to assist in the recovery process.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
