Myanmar earthquake death toll reaches 1,644

Daisy Okiring and Agencies

A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, claiming at least 1,644 lives, injuring over 3,400 people, and leaving 139 missing, according to updated official figures. The disaster has prompted the country’s opposition, the National Unity Government (NUG), to declare a two-week unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate emergency relief efforts in the most affected regions.

Widespread destruction and infrastructure collapse

The quake caused extensive damage in Mandalay and Naypyitaw, destroying buildings, cracking roads, and collapsing critical infrastructure. Among the damaged facilities was the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport, leading to significant delays in aid distribution. The destruction of communication and transportation networks has further hampered rescue operations, even as international assistance starts to arrive.

Impact in Thailand

Tremors from the earthquake were felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where 17 fatalities have been confirmed. Ten of the deaths occurred when an under-construction high-rise building near Chatuchak Market collapsed.

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Authorities are still searching for 83 missing individuals. A grieving relative, Naruemol Thonglek, expressed her distress: “I was praying that they had survived, but when I got here and saw the ruin — where could they be?”

Civil conflict complicates relief efforts

The ongoing civil war in Myanmar has made relief coordination even more challenging, as large parts of the country remain under the control of anti-junta forces. In response, the NUG has pledged to pause offensive operations in affected areas starting Sunday. Its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force, has committed to assisting international organizations in setting up temporary shelters and medical stations but warned that it would defend itself if attacked.

International aid and humanitarian response

The United Nations has allocated $5 million in emergency funding, citing critical shortages of trauma kits, medical supplies, and shelter materials. “The shortage of health supplies is hampering response efforts, especially in trauma care,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted in an initial assessment. Meanwhile, international aid convoys, including 17 trucks from China carrying emergency materials, are expected to arrive soon.

China and Russia, key allies of Myanmar, have been among the first to provide assistance. China has pledged $13.8 million in aid and deployed 130 rescue personnel, while Russia has sent 120 rescue workers and a medical team. Other nations, including India, Malaysia, South Korea, and the United States, have also committed support to relief efforts.

Myanmar’s seismic vulnerability

Myanmar sits along the active Sagaing Fault, making it particularly prone to earthquakes. Seismologist Brian Baptie from the British Geological Survey emphasized the risks: “When you have a large earthquake in an area where over a million people live in vulnerable buildings, the consequences can often be disastrous.”

As rescue operations continue, the ceasefire offers a rare moment of unity in a country already fractured by conflict and now further devastated by natural disaster.