The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar last week has surpassed 3.000, with hundreds of people still missing, as unusual rainfall is forecast in the country that could hamper rescue and aid distribution efforts.
The 7,7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday was the strongest to hit the region in a century. Six regions of the country, home to 28 million people, were hardest hit, with buildings collapsing, entire communities flattened and residents left without food, water and shelter.
Yesterday Wednesday, the Japanese embassy in Myanmar announced via Facebook that the death toll had reached 3.003, while another 4.515 people have been injured and 351 are missing.
Meanwhile, meteorologists are warning that unusual rainfall is expected in Myanmar from Sunday until April 11 in areas particularly affected by the earthquake, such as Mandalay, Sagaing and Naypyidaw.
“It’s raining and there are still too many people buried” in the rubble, a rescue worker said. “And especially in Mandalay, if it starts to rain, the people who are trapped will drown, even if they had survived until now,” he added.
In its post, the Japanese embassy added that so far 53 flights have been operated to transport aid to Myanmar, while more than 1.900 rescuers have been sent to the country from 15 countries, including China, India and Russia.
Meanwhile, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will travel to Bangkok today to discuss the response to the earthquake as part of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) summit, which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
New challenges
The rains will complicate the work of aid workers and rescuers, who have already requested unhindered access to all affected areas of the civil war-torn country.
The military has struggled to govern Myanmar since its coup in February 2021. Moreover, the civil war that has erupted in the country – where dozens of armed groups of ethnic minorities and political opponents of the junta are active, many of which have taken control of parts of Myanmar – has dealt a severe blow to the economy and pushed basic services to the brink of collapse.
Yesterday, state broadcaster MRTV reported that the junta had declared a ceasefire in its operations against the rebels, effective immediately and lasting 20 days. The aim is to support relief efforts from the effects of the earthquake. However, the military warned that it would respond "in an appropriate manner" if the rebels launched attacks.
Nearly a week after the earthquake, rescuers in neighboring Thailand are still searching for survivors under a mountain of rubble after a 30-story building under construction collapsed in Bangkok.
Rescuers are using bulldozers and excavators to break through 100 tons of cement to find any survivors. So far, 15 workers have been found dead, while 72 are still missing.
The total death toll in Thailand stands at 22.
Source: protothema
