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Wednesday, Apr 02, 2025
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Death Toll Rises After Devastating Earthquake Strikes Myanmar
Rescue operations persist as the region grapples with the aftermath of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake.
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, has soared to 1,644, according to the military junta, with 3,408 individuals reported injured and approximately 139 missing.
The quake, with an initial magnitude of 7.7, was followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, causing widespread devastation particularly in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city.
Destruction was reported across several regions, with significant infrastructure damage including the collapse of buildings, roads, and bridges.
In Myanmar's Mandalay region, rescue operations are underway, where emergency workers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building 30 hours after the earthquake struck.
This incident has offered a glimmer of hope amid mounting despair as rescuers continue to search for survivors among the wreckage.
The earthquake has also affected neighboring Thailand, where reports indicate that six fatalities occurred in Bangkok due to the collapse of a high-rise building under construction.
Search efforts for missing construction workers are ongoing, with 47 individuals still unaccounted for.
In response to the disaster, the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has called for international assistance and declared a state of emergency in the six worst-affected areas.
Countries including China, India, and Russia have sent rescue teams and aid supplies, while the United Nations has allocated $5 million for immediate relief efforts.
International humanitarian efforts face significant challenges due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, where the military government has been under scrutiny for blocking aid to areas controlled by opposition forces.
The World Food Programme has noted that the region was already grappling with humanitarian crises before the earthquake, which has only exacerbated the conditions as healthcare resources are overwhelmed.
Rescue operations are complicated by communication breakdowns and poor infrastructure, with major highways rendered impassable.
Witnesses reported significant structural damage in Mandalay, further complicated by aftershocks.
As night fell, many residents chose to sleep outdoors rather than risk returning to damaged homes.
In the wake of the earthquake, building inspections are also taking place in Bangkok, where concerns over structural integrity have prompted authorities to ensure the safety of various buildings.
The earthquake has been described as the most powerful to hit the region in over a century, affecting a wide geographical area and felt as far away as India and parts of Southeast Asia.
As rescue efforts continue, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed amidst ongoing aftershocks and the impacts of a complex local and international emergency response.
The quake, with an initial magnitude of 7.7, was followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, causing widespread devastation particularly in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city.
Destruction was reported across several regions, with significant infrastructure damage including the collapse of buildings, roads, and bridges.
In Myanmar's Mandalay region, rescue operations are underway, where emergency workers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building 30 hours after the earthquake struck.
This incident has offered a glimmer of hope amid mounting despair as rescuers continue to search for survivors among the wreckage.
The earthquake has also affected neighboring Thailand, where reports indicate that six fatalities occurred in Bangkok due to the collapse of a high-rise building under construction.
Search efforts for missing construction workers are ongoing, with 47 individuals still unaccounted for.
In response to the disaster, the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has called for international assistance and declared a state of emergency in the six worst-affected areas.
Countries including China, India, and Russia have sent rescue teams and aid supplies, while the United Nations has allocated $5 million for immediate relief efforts.
International humanitarian efforts face significant challenges due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, where the military government has been under scrutiny for blocking aid to areas controlled by opposition forces.
The World Food Programme has noted that the region was already grappling with humanitarian crises before the earthquake, which has only exacerbated the conditions as healthcare resources are overwhelmed.
Rescue operations are complicated by communication breakdowns and poor infrastructure, with major highways rendered impassable.
Witnesses reported significant structural damage in Mandalay, further complicated by aftershocks.
As night fell, many residents chose to sleep outdoors rather than risk returning to damaged homes.
In the wake of the earthquake, building inspections are also taking place in Bangkok, where concerns over structural integrity have prompted authorities to ensure the safety of various buildings.
The earthquake has been described as the most powerful to hit the region in over a century, affecting a wide geographical area and felt as far away as India and parts of Southeast Asia.
As rescue efforts continue, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed amidst ongoing aftershocks and the impacts of a complex local and international emergency response.
