The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar nearly a week ago has risen to 3,085, with search and rescue teams continuing to recover bodies, the country’s military-led government reported.
Humanitarian aid groups are working urgently to provide medical care and shelter to survivors as authorities struggle to assess the full scale of the disaster.
In a statement, the military said that 4,715 people have been injured, while 341 remain missing following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, last Friday. The quake caused widespread destruction, collapsing thousands of buildings, damaging infrastructure, and leaving entire communities cut off.
Local media reports suggest the actual number of casualties may be higher than official figures, as ongoing telecommunications outages and accessibility challenges have made it difficult to gather complete information. The death toll is expected to rise further.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the earthquake completely destroyed four hospitals and one health center, while 32 hospitals and 18 health centers sustained significant damage. The United Nations warned that the healthcare system is struggling to cope with the rising number of patients, many of whom urgently require trauma care, surgical treatment, and disease prevention.
International assistance has started arriving, with a mobile hospital from India and a joint Russian-Belarusian hospital now operating in Mandalay to help treat the injured.
Myanmar’s military government announced a temporary ceasefire until April 22 to facilitate humanitarian efforts, amid concerns that the ongoing civil conflict could hinder relief operations. However, the military warned that it would take action against any groups using the ceasefire to regroup or launch attacks.
Some ethnic armed resistance groups, including the Kachin Independence Army, have also declared a ceasefire but maintain the right to defend themselves. Despite these declarations, reports from Kachin State suggest that military activity is still ongoing, though independent verification remains difficult.
More than 1,550 international rescuers are working alongside local teams, with 17 countries sending rescue equipment and supplies. In Naypyitaw, authorities are setting up large tents in open fields to provide temporary shelter as many people remain homeless or fearful of aftershocks in the extreme 40°C (104°F) heat.
In Mandalay, local residents have been assisting relief workers by providing food and water, with volunteers offering watermelon slices to Chinese rescue teams in the scorching heat.
The earthquake’s effects were also felt in Bangkok, Thailand, where a skyscraper under construction collapsed, killing 22 people and injuring 35. Search efforts continued at the site, with authorities initially detecting possible signs of life in the rubble, but no survivors had been found by the end of the day.
As search and rescue efforts continue, authorities fear that Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis—already worsened by political instability and conflict—will escalate further, leaving millions in urgent need of aid.
