Yangon, April 3 (NationPress) As of Thursday morning, Myanmar has endured 66 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 7.5, as reported by the country's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

These aftershocks came in the wake of a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit the nation last Friday, according to Xinhua news agency.

In response, the State Administration Council (SAC) Chairman, Min Aung Hlaing, announced that the government will allocate 500 billion kyats (approximately $238.09 million) for relief and rehabilitation following the earthquake.

This announcement was made during a cash donation ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, where generous contributors provided 104.44 billion kyats ($49.71 million) in cash and non-cash items valued at 12.4 billion kyats ($5.9 million), as reported by the state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar.

The donations were received by the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, the SAC Vice Chairman, council members, and various officials.

Following the tragic earthquake, Min Aung Hlaing has appealed for international assistance. By March 31, rescue teams and medical staff from 16 countries and regions had arrived in Myanmar with humanitarian aid and medical supplies.

Among the 18 significant earthquakes that have hit Myanmar, the 7.7-magnitude quake stands as the second strongest, following an 8.0-magnitude earthquake that occurred in 1912, according to the local daily Myanma Alinn.

The death toll from Friday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake has reached 3,085, with 4,715 injured and 341 still missing, as per information from the State Administration Council on Wednesday.

Myo Nyunt, President of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, earlier informed Xinhua that critical challenges in rescue operations include disaster assessment and logistics coordination.

Due to safety concerns in the affected zones, rescue teams have encountered substantial obstacles in distributing supplies, particularly facing a shortage of heavy machinery, Myo Nyunt said.

The formidable 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which was followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock just minutes later, struck Myanmar’s Mandalay region on Friday, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.

Myanmar declared a week-long mourning period on Monday following the earthquake that resulted in extensive devastation.

The United Nations and various international aid organizations are struggling to respond to the severe earthquake, which has obliterated several cities including Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw, displacing tens of thousands. Hospitals are working to manage the surge of patients.

Nonetheless, the United Nations, the US, India, the European Union, and several other nations along with international organizations have dispatched aid and rescue teams to assist the earthquake victims in Myanmar.

The Indian Army and Navy have mobilized their resources, providing both immediate rescue support and long-term assistance to the impacted communities.