Death toll climbs to 1,644 after severe earthquake in Myanmar
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Synopsis
As the aftermath of the earthquake unfolds, the death toll has reached 1,644 in Myanmar, with thousands injured and missing. Rescue operations are ongoing, and international aid is being mobilized to assist the affected regions.
Key Takeaways
- 1,644 fatalities confirmed
- 3,408 injured individuals
- 139 people unaccounted for
- Magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck near Mandalay
- Emergency declared in multiple regions
- International relief efforts underway
- Hospitals urgently seeking blood donations
- Significant structural damage reported
- Power supply and mobile networks disrupted
- Support from India for humanitarian aid
Yangon, March 29 (NationPress) A total of 1,644 individuals have lost their lives, while 3,408 sustained injuries, and 139 are still unaccounted for due to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, according to the Information Team of the State Administration Council on Saturday.
A significant 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed closely by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock just minutes later, struck Myanmar's Mandalay region on Friday, resulting in extensive casualties and damage across several countries.
The epicenter was located approximately 20 km from Mandalay, the nation's second-largest city with a population of 1.5 million. In response, the National Disaster Management Committee has declared a state of emergency throughout the Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, northeastern Shan State, the capital Nay Pyi Taw, and Bago Region.
Rescue efforts are currently in progress, and international assistance is being rapidly mobilized to meet the urgent needs of those affected.
Public hospitals in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw have urgently requested blood donations as they manage a surge in injured patients, while rescue operations continue amid reports of additional individuals trapped under collapsed structures.
Official reports indicate that the earthquake resulted in a failure of the power supply system and disrupted mobile networks, leaving parts of Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, without signal.
Several major roads connecting Mandalay and Yangon to the south have suffered damage or are blocked, while airports in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw have been temporarily closed, with all flights canceled.
Images and videos shared on social media reveal significant structural destruction to buildings, temples, and various historical landmarks in the Mandalay region, including the Mandalay Palace and the Mahamuni Pagoda.
This earthquake is noted as the most powerful to date this year, as reported by the United States Geological Survey. Tremors were also felt in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and southwest China, according to Xinhua news agency.
In Thailand, 10 fatalities were reported, with 42 others injured and 78 still missing in the capital, Bangkok, as announced by authorities on Saturday.
Following the earthquake, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency in Bangkok. Noticeable tremors were experienced in the northern provinces of Thailand, such as Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. Some tourist sites in the Pai District of Mae Hong Son have collapsed.
Shortly after the high-intensity earthquake struck Myanmar, India swiftly responded by dispatching rescue teams and providing humanitarian assistance to aid in evacuation efforts, as well as offering support to the displaced communities.
