Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Surges Past 1,640 as Foreign Aid Arrives

The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has risen to 1,644, with over 3,400 injured and 139 missing, according to state broadcaster MRTV. Officials emphasized that data collection is still ongoing, with many casualties reported in Mandalay, located 17 kilometers from the quake’s epicenter.

The disaster also affected neighboring Thailand, where at least 12 people have died and 95 remain missing, according to Thai authorities.

In response to the devastation, Myanmar’s military regime declared a state of emergency across six regions. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing visited Mandalay on Saturday, instructing officials to accelerate search and rescue operations. However, relief efforts are being hindered by the closure of airports in Mandalay and Naypyitaw. Reports indicate that nine people were killed when the control tower at Naypyitaw Airport collapsed.

A temporary hospital has been set up at Mandalay Airport to assist the injured. Meanwhile, power outages and unstable internet in Mandalay and Yangon have further complicated relief operations. Authorities announced that electricity in Yangon would be rationed, with different areas receiving power for only four hours per day.

The ongoing civil war in Myanmar, which escalated after the military seized power in 2021, has complicated disaster relief. Some quake-affected areas are controlled by the regime, while others are held by opposition groups, making coordination difficult.

Residents in Mandalay report severe shortages of food, water, and other essentials. A local resident told Nikkei Asia that no international aid had reached his neighborhood by Saturday evening.

China became the first country to send rescue teams, with a 37-member squad arriving in Yangon before heading to Naypyitaw, one of the worst-hit areas. The Chinese embassy in Myanmar described the swift response as a reflection of the “China-Myanmar Pauk Paw friendship.”

India also dispatched humanitarian aid, including blankets, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, food supplies, and medical teams, according to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The United Nations allocated $5 million for emergency relief efforts, citing concerns that the earthquake would exacerbate Myanmar’s existing humanitarian crisis, where nearly 20 million people require aid and over 3.5 million have been displaced. The European Union also announced an initial €2.5 million ($2.3 million) in emergency assistance.

In Thailand, the earthquake caused a partial collapse of the State Audit Office tower in Bangkok, leaving 96 people trapped under the rubble. Thai officials have confirmed eight deaths at the site, with four additional fatalities reported elsewhere in the city. In a rare moment of hope, rescue workers pulled an unconscious woman from the debris 28 hours after the quake.

Many of the trapped individuals are Myanmar migrant workers, including Aung Ye Soe and three of his friends, who were working above the 20th floor of the tower when it collapsed. All remain missing.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered inspections of all buildings in Bangkok and other affected areas. She assured the public that the government is preparing compensation for the victims and that King Rama X would cover medical expenses for the injured.

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed provincial officials to inspect high-rise buildings in 13 affected provinces, particularly in Chiang Mai, where cracks have appeared in several structures.

Meanwhile, ASEAN foreign ministers have extended their condolences to Myanmar and Thailand, pledging to support relief and recovery efforts in the region.