Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises to Over 2,700, With Hundreds Still Missing

The death toll from the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar last weekend has climbed to at least 2,719, according to the country’s leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Authorities warn the number could rise to 3,000 as search and rescue teams reach remote areas still cut off by the disaster.

In a national address today, Min Aung Hlaing confirmed that 4,521 people were injured, and more than 400 remain unaccounted for. The Global New Light of Myanmar reported that around 500 Muslims were killed while praying in mosques when the quake struck.

At 12:51:02 p.m. local time on April 1—the exact time the earthquake occurred on March 28—the nation observed a poignant minute of silence. Sirens wailed across cities and towns, and all activity came to a halt to honor the victims. In Mandalay, outside the heavily damaged Sky Villa apartment complex, rescue workers stood in silence, hands clasped behind their backs, as a gesture of respect for the lives lost.

The government has declared a week of national mourning through April 6 to “commiserate with the loss of life and widespread destruction.”

Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with over 1.7 million residents, was the hardest hit. Numerous buildings crumbled, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. On the city’s outskirts, a crematorium is operating around the clock to handle the overwhelming number of bodies.

Four days after the quake, many residents remain outdoors, either because their homes have collapsed or out of fear of aftershocks. “I don’t feel safe. There are six- or seven-story buildings near my house that are leaning and could fall at any time,” said Soe Tint, a watch repairman in Mandalay. Many families, including those with infants and young children, are sleeping on blankets spread out on the streets, with only a few managing to find tents for shelter.

International aid has begun to arrive. More than 1,000 rescue workers from other countries are now on the ground in Myanmar. Local media report that nearly 650 people have been rescued from beneath collapsed buildings so far. A global relief effort is underway, including a $100 million aid package to support recovery and humanitarian needs.

The quake’s impact extended beyond Myanmar’s borders. In neighboring Thailand, authorities in Bangkok reported 20 fatalities, most of whom were construction workers killed when a 30-story building under construction collapsed.

As Myanmar continues its search for survivors and mourns its dead, the full extent of the tragedy is still unfolding.

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Source: Vietnam Insider