Death toll from 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar climbs to 1,002 VIDEO / UPDATED

The death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has risen to 1,002, according to state-run MRTV. In addition, 2,376 people have been reported injured, and 30 are still missing.

The powerful earthquake, which struck around lunchtime on March 28, has left widespread devastation across the country, with significant damage to infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings. The military junta reported that civilian casualties have resulted from these damages, and ongoing search and rescue operations are being carried out in the affected areas.

The death toll has sharply increased from an initial report of 144 fatalities issued by state media on March 28. The junta issued a statement confirming that rescue operations are underway and urged international assistance in the wake of the disaster.

Junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing, who had previously warned of more deaths and injuries, called for international aid. "We invite any country to provide help and donations," he said.

On March 29, international aid began arriving, with a Chinese rescue team among the first to reach Myanmar. Both Russia and the United States have also offered their support in the aftermath of the quake. The earthquake's impact also extended to neighboring Thailand, where hundreds of buildings were reported damaged.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a predictive model estimating that the death toll could exceed 10,000 people, with total losses potentially surpassing Myanmar's entire gross domestic product.

09:43

The death toll from the catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has surged to more than 800, with rescue operations ongoing. 

The earthquake, which hit around midday, was centered just west of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, and its effects have been felt across major urban areas, including the capital Naypyitaw, Caliber.Az reports, citing Myanmar Now.

Initial reports had indicated that 144 people had lost their lives, but as the leader of Myanmar’s military junta, Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Mandalay early on Saturday, revised figures were released. The death toll now stands at 808, with 2,400 others reported injured.

Search-and-rescue efforts are continuing, and the numbers are expected to rise as rescuers work tirelessly to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings. Many are feared to be still buried in the rubble, and the full scale of the disaster is still unfolding.

The earthquake’s impact has been devastating, with widespread destruction reported across the affected regions. Authorities are urging citizens to stay away from damaged structures as the situation remains volatile. The international community has offered condolences and pledged support to Myanmar as it grapples with this catastrophic event.

09:00

The death toll from a massive earthquake that struck central Myanmar has risen to nearly 700, with fears that the number could climb higher as rescuers continue to search for survivors beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

The devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northwest of Sagaing in the early afternoon on March 28, followed by a powerful 6.7-magnitude aftershock just minutes later. The tremors caused widespread destruction, toppling buildings, damaging roads, and bringing down bridges across Myanmar, with the worst devastation reported in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to Myanmar’s ruling junta, at least 694 people were killed and nearly 1,700 others injured in the Mandalay region alone. The military government has declared a state of emergency in six of the hardest-hit regions and made a rare appeal for international aid—an unusual move for a regime that has previously resisted foreign assistance during disasters.

Destruction and chaos in Myanmar

The earthquake, the strongest to hit Myanmar in over a century, has crippled emergency services already strained by years of civil conflict following the 2021 military coup. In Mandalay, home to over 1.7 million people, dozens of buildings have been reduced to rubble, forcing medics to treat the wounded outdoors due to the collapse of medical facilities.

“I haven’t seen anything like this before. We are trying to handle the situation, but I’m so exhausted now,” a doctor told AFP from a makeshift treatment centre in Naypyidaw, the capital.

With communication lines severely disrupted, the full scale of the catastrophe remains unclear, and officials warn the death toll could rise significantly as rescue efforts continue.

Bangkok hit by quake aftershock

The powerful tremors were felt hundreds of kilometres away in Bangkok, Thailand, where a high-rise building under construction collapsed, killing at least 10 people. Rescuers worked through the night searching for up to 100 workers believed to be trapped beneath the wreckage.

“We are doing our best with the resources we have because every life matters,” Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said at the scene, vowing to prioritise rescue operations.

The quake also damaged thousands of buildings across the Thai capital, prompting authorities to deploy over 100 engineers to assess structural safety. Shoppers and office workers fled into the streets in panic as rooftop swimming pools spilled over, sending torrents of water cascading down the city’s skyscrapers.

Hospitals in Bangkok were also forced to evacuate, with dramatic scenes unfolding as one woman gave birth outdoors after being moved from a hospital ward, while a surgeon completed an operation outside after evacuating his patient mid-surgery.

International aid and response

The rare appeal for foreign assistance by Myanmar’s military leadership underscores the severity of the crisis. The junta, which has largely isolated the country from the international community since seizing power in 2021, is now facing pressure to facilitate aid distribution.

With emergency response capabilities overwhelmed, many survivors have been left to fend for themselves. In Mandalay, makeshift camps have sprung up in open spaces as people fear aftershocks could bring down already weakened buildings.

As rescue efforts continue, the world watches to see whether Myanmar’s military rulers will allow international aid groups full access to the affected regions or if political tensions will hinder relief efforts in the days ahead.

By Vugar Khalilov