The death toll from Myanmar’s earthquake rose to 3,145 on Thursday as more bodies were recovered, the military-led government said. Search and rescue teams continue efforts amid widespread devastation.
Information Minister Maung Maung Ohn reported 4,589 injuries and 221 missing persons, according to state TV MRTV.
The 7.7-magnitude quake struck near Mandalay on March 28, collapsing buildings, destroying roads, and damaging bridges. The UN estimates over 17 million people across 57 townships were affected, with more than 9 million severely impacted.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the global community to increase funding for relief efforts, warning that the crisis is worsening with monsoon season approaching. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher and special envoy Julie Bishop will arrive in Myanmar on Friday.
The World Health Organization reported the destruction of four hospitals and a health center, with 32 more hospitals and 18 health centers damaged. Thousands need urgent medical care. A mobile hospital from India and a joint Russian-Belarusian hospital are now operational in Mandalay.
International aid is arriving, with over 1,550 foreign rescuers assisting. Seventeen countries have sent supplies. The military, which seized power in 2021, declared a temporary ceasefire until April 22, though local reports suggest fighting continues in Kachin state.
In Bangkok, where the quake caused an under-construction skyscraper to collapse, rescue teams continued searching for survivors. Twenty-two people died, and 35 were injured in the city.
