Myanmar earthquake death toll surpasses 2700

Rescue teams are losing hope of finding more survivors after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, killing over 2,700 people and worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis fueled by civil war.
In Naypyitaw, a woman was miraculously pulled from the rubble 91 hours after her building collapsed. However, experts warn that survival chances drop dramatically beyond 72 hours.
Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, reported 2,719 deaths, 4,521 injuries, and 441 missing persons, according to state media. He described the quake as the country’s second strongest in recorded history, following an 8.0-magnitude tremor in 1912.
The full extent of the devastation remains unclear as power outages, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted communication hinder assessments. The worst-hit areas include Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, and the capital, Naypyitaw.
“The needs are massive and growing by the hour,” said Julia Rees, UNICEF’s deputy representative for Myanmar.
Myanmar’s fire department reported that 403 people have been rescued in Mandalay, while 259 bodies have been recovered. A monastery collapse killed 50 Buddhist monks, with another 150 feared trapped beneath the debris.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 10,000 buildings have collapsed or sustained severe damage. Neighboring Thailand also felt the quake’s impact, where a high-rise under construction collapsed, killing 21 and injuring 34 in Bangkok.
International rescue teams from China, Russia, India, and the UAE have arrived, but efforts are hampered by limited heavy machinery. A U.S. disaster assessment team arrived after delays in obtaining visas, following a $2 million emergency aid pledge.
As Myanmar pauses to mourn its dead, the crisis deepens, with relief efforts struggling to keep pace with the scale of destruction.