The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar nearly a week ago has risen to 3,085, with search and rescue teams recovering more bodies, according to the military-led government. Additionally, 4,715 people have been injured, and 341 remain missing.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, causing widespread destruction. Thousands of buildings were flattened, roads buckled, and bridges were destroyed across several regions. Due to severe damage to communication networks and the difficulty of accessing affected areas, local media reports suggest the actual number of casualties could be much higher.
The World Health Organization reported that four hospitals and one health center were completely destroyed, while another 32 hospitals and 18 health centers sustained partial damage. With healthcare infrastructure compromised and patient numbers surging, medical access has become critically limited in many of the hardest-hit areas. Urgent medical needs include trauma care, surgical interventions, and treatment for disease outbreaks.
International aid efforts are underway, with a mobile hospital from India and a joint Russian-Belarusian medical team now operational in Mandalay. In addition to medical assistance, temporary shelters are being set up as many people remain homeless or are staying outdoors due to fears of aftershocks. In Naypyitaw, workers constructed large tents in open fields, while in Mandalay, local residents offered slices of watermelon to Chinese volunteers to help them cope with the heat.
More than 1,550 international rescue workers are working alongside local teams. Aid supplies and equipment have been sent to Myanmar from 17 different countries.
The earthquake has worsened Myanmar’s existing humanitarian crisis, which was already dire due to the ongoing civil conflict following the military’s seizure of power in 2021. Prior to the quake, more than 3 million people were displaced, and nearly 20 million people were in need of assistance, according to the United Nations.
In response to the crisis, the military declared a temporary ceasefire through April 22 to facilitate humanitarian aid, following similar declarations from armed resistance groups. However, reports from Kachin State indicate that military operations continued in some areas, though these reports could not be independently verified.
In Bangkok, the earthquake caused the collapse of an under-construction skyscraper, killing 22 people and injuring 35. Search efforts are ongoing after rescue teams detected a possible sign of life in the rubble, though no survivors have been found so far.
