On Monday, Myanmar's military-led government revealed a harrowing update, announcing that the death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck the country had climbed to over 1,700, as more bodies were uncovered from the rubble. Major General Zaw Min Tun, a government spokesman, informed state-run MRTV that an additional 3,400 individuals had been injured, with more than 300 still missing. Earlier reports by the military had tallied 1,644 fatalities, but no specific updates were provided regarding the latest figures.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which struck at midday on Friday, unleashed widespread devastation, including in the capital Naypyitaw and Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. It was a particularly poignant moment for Myanmar's Muslim minority, who were observing Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Tun Kyi, a member of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network's steering committee, revealed that approximately 700 worshippers perished when mosques crumbled. It remains uncertain whether these casualties were already accounted for in the official death toll.
Tun Kyi further stated that roughly 60 mosques sustained damage or were entirely destroyed during the quake. Videos shared on The Irrawaddy's online news site depicted several mosques toppling over during the tremor, as people scrambled to safety. In Mandalay, a tragic scene unfolded at the U Hla Thein monastery, where 270 monks were sitting for a religious examination when the earthquake struck, causing the building to collapse. Rescue workers on the scene on Monday confirmed that 70 monks managed to escape, but 50 bodies were discovered, and 150 remained unaccounted for.
The true extent of the damage in numerous regions remains unknown. It is believed that the number of fatalities and injuries could be multiples of the official figures. However, due to telecommunication outages and the immense challenges posed by movement within the country, little information about the destruction in various areas has emerged. Lauren Ellery, deputy director of programs for the International Rescue Committee in Myanmar, told The Associated Press, "At this stage, we're still unclear about the scale of the destruction."
A state of emergency has been declared in six regions. Ellery explained that her teams on the ground and local partners are currently assessing where the needs are greatest, while simultaneously providing emergency medical care, humanitarian supplies, and other forms of assistance. She shared, "There were reports of a town near Mandalay where 80% of the buildings had reportedly collapsed, but it didn't gain media attention due to slow telecommunications." She added, "Even in areas less impacted, our partners reported on Saturday that landslides hindered their access to one village."
The earthquake, centered near Mandalay—a bustling city of approximately 1.5 million people—brought down buildings and caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure, such as the city's airport. An artificial intelligence analysis of satellite images of Mandalay, conducted by Microsoft's AI for Good Lab, revealed that 515 buildings suffered between 80% to 100% damage, while another 1,524 experienced damage ranging from 20% to 80%. Additionally, 180,004 buildings incurred minor damage (0% to 20%). The AI4G Lab noted that this assessment served as a "preliminary guide and required on-the-ground verification."
The World Health Organization reported that three hospitals were destroyed and 22 were partially damaged in the region. The U.N. agency emphasized, "The scale of deaths and injuries is not yet fully understood, and the numbers are expected to rise." It continued, "The earthquake's devastation has overwhelmed healthcare facilities in the affected areas, which are struggling to cope with the influx of injured individuals. There is an urgent need for trauma and surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anesthetics, essential medicines, and mental health support."
The lack of heavy machinery has hindered search and rescue operations, compelling many to painstakingly search for survivors by hand amidst relentless heat, with daily temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
Myanmar's neighboring countries and allies have stepped forward to lend a helping hand in this hour of need. International rescue contingents from various nations, including Russia, China, India, and several Southeast Asian countries, are currently on the ground, actively engaged in the relief efforts.
On Sunday, an Indian rescue team could be seen using jackhammers to break through piles of fallen concrete at a Mandalay site. They employed angle grinders powered by portable generators to cut through reinforcing steel bars, as they desperately tried to reach those trapped in lower levels. Their efforts were rewarded when they managed to extract a covered body and carefully loaded it into an awaiting ambulance.
The European Union, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and other nations have pledged millions of dollars in aid, either directly or through local partners and international organizations. However, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's assurance that Washington would offer assistance, no known aid has reached Myanmar as of yet.
A handful of American military personnel were deployed to Bangkok, where the earthquake shook the Thai capital, claiming the lives of at least 18 people, many of whom perished at a construction site where a partially built high-rise collapsed. Another 33 individuals were reported injured, and 78 remain missing, primarily from the construction site near the bustling Chatuchak market.
As heavy equipment was shut down, authorities urged onlookers to maintain silence as they used machines to detect any signs of life beneath the rubble. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt informed reporters at the scene that signs of life had been detected on Sunday night, although experts couldn't ascertain whether it was due to a machine error.Despite everything, he remained hopeful about finding survivors, saying, "All efforts are worthwhile if only one life can be saved."
Myanmar, also referred to as Burma, sits atop the Sagaing Fault, a significant north-south fault line separating the Indian and Sunda tectonic plates. The earthquake struck when a 200-kilometer (125-mile) section of this fault ruptured, causing widespread devastation across a broad swath of territory in the country's center, encompassing Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, and Bago regions, as well as Shan State.
Beyond the earthquake damage, rescue operations are further complicated by the ongoing bloody civil war that has plagued much of the country, including the quake-affected areas. In 2021, the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking significant armed resistance. Government forces have lost control of vast swathes of Myanmar, making it dangerous or impossible for aid groups to reach many places. According to the United Nations, over 3 million people have been displaced by the fighting, and nearly 20 million are in desperate need of assistance.
Ellery from the International Rescue Committee noted that the area hardest hit by the earthquake had already suffered severe damage from flooding last year, which left many homeless. It is also where many internally displaced people in the country have sought refuge.
Since the earthquake, numerous individuals have been sleeping outdoors, either due to the destruction of their homes or out of fear that continued aftershocks might cause them to collapse. With the monsoon rains commencing in May, finding shelter for these people poses a significant challenge moving forward, she emphasized. "But right now, our focus is on providing immediate relief," she concluded.
