The death toll from a massive earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has risen to over 1,000, with rescuers tirelessly working to search for survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings. The ruling military junta reported on Saturday that 1,002 people had been confirmed dead and 2,376 injured, with the majority of casualties occurring in the city of Mandalay. However, the junta warned that the numbers could still increase, stating that “detailed figures are still being collected.”
The earthquake, a 7.7 magnitude tremor, struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar in the early afternoon on Friday. A 6.7-magnitude aftershock followed just minutes later. The quake caused widespread devastation, collapsing buildings, downing bridges, and damaging roads across large swaths of the country. Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, was severely affected, with extensive destruction reported. In the capital, Naypyidaw, medics at a major hospital were forced to treat the wounded in open-air spaces due to overcrowding.
In response to the disaster, Myanmar’s military government declared a state of emergency across six of the worst-hit regions. The government has called for international assistance, marking a rare appeal for foreign aid from the junta, which has historically been reluctant to accept outside help in the aftermath of major natural disasters.
In neighboring Thailand, where tremors were also felt, the earthquake’s impact was felt in Bangkok. Authorities reported that six people had been confirmed dead, 26 injured, and 47 still missing, most of them from a construction site near the popular Chatuchak market, where a high-rise building collapsed. Earlier reports had indicated 10 confirmed deaths and approximately 100 missing. Bangkok city authorities have since deployed over 100 engineers to inspect buildings for safety after receiving more than 2,000 damage reports.
The earthquake, which is considered the largest to hit Myanmar in over a century, also caused significant damage to buildings in Bangkok, located hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter. US geologists confirmed that the tremors were powerful enough to affect structures in the Thai capital.
In the wake of the disaster, the United Nations has allocated $5 million to kickstart relief efforts in Myanmar. While US President Donald Trump expressed that the US would assist with the response, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the effort, given the administration’s deep cuts to foreign assistance programs.
Meanwhile, international teams have begun arriving in Myanmar to aid in the recovery effort. A 37-member team from China’s Yunnan province reached the city of Yangon early on Saturday with earthquake detection equipment, drones, and other necessary supplies. Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Myanmar’s junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, to express his condolences for the devastation.
Russia has also extended assistance, with two planes carrying 120 rescuers and supplies arriving in the region, according to the Russian state news agency Tass. India, France, and the European Union have offered support, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is mobilizing trauma injury supplies. India confirmed that it had sent a search and rescue team, along with a medical team and provisions. Malaysia’s foreign ministry announced plans to send 50 personnel on Sunday to assist in identifying and providing aid to the worst-hit areas.
As the recovery efforts continue, the death toll and the extent of the damage in Myanmar are expected to rise further, and the international community has pledged to support the country in its time of need. The coming days will likely see further mobilization of aid and rescue teams as the full scale of the disaster becomes clearer.
