Myanmar earthquake death toll surpasses 1,000 as rescuers search for survivors

Myanmar-Thailand Earthquake: Death Toll Surpasses 1,000 as Rescue Efforts Continue

• A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Sagaing, followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.

• The disaster caused widespread devastation, collapsing buildings, damaging bridges, and buckling roads, with Mandalay among the worst-hit areas.

• The ruling junta confirmed at least 1,002 fatalities and nearly 2,400 injuries in Myanmar, with 10 additional deaths reported in Bangkok.

• Rescue operations are ongoing, but communication disruptions hinder the full assessment of the catastrophe’s scale.

• The earthquake, the most powerful to hit Myanmar in decades, caused severe structural damage as far as Bangkok, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.

• In Mandalay, a centuries-old Buddhist pagoda was reduced to rubble, and many residents fear further tremors.

• Damage to Mandalay Airport complicates relief efforts, as Myanmar’s rescue services and healthcare system struggle due to ongoing civil conflict.

• Myanmar’s junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, made a rare appeal for international aid, with India and China among the first to send relief supplies.

• In Bangkok, a 30-story under-construction skyscraper collapsed, killing at least 10 people, with up to 100 workers still unaccounted for.

• Rescue teams in Bangkok are using thermal imaging drones to locate survivors, while city authorities assess damage to thousands of buildings.

• The earthquake led to dramatic scenes, including rooftop swimming pools overflowing, hospitals being evacuated, and medical procedures continuing outdoors.

Ongoing Response

• Emergency declarations have been issued for Myanmar’s worst-affected regions.

• Relief efforts continue amid fears of further aftershocks, with thousands left without shelter.

• Authorities in Bangkok and Myanmar brace for a rising death toll as more information emerges.