Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 3,354 Thousands injured and missing

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has left a devastating toll across the country.

The death toll has reached 3,354, with 4,508 people injured and 220 others reported missing. As the country continues to grapple with the aftermath, millions remain displaced, many of them without shelter, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The United Nations estimates that more than three million people may have been affected by the quake, which has compounded the challenges caused by years of civil war. Over a week after the disaster, many survivors are either forced to sleep outdoors or too fearful to return to their homes due to the risk of further collapses.

In Mandalay, the city closest to the epicenter, damage is widespread, and the devastation is being felt throughout central Myanmar. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s top aid official, visited the city on April 5, calling the destruction "staggering" and urging global support for Myanmar’s people.

"The world must rally behind the people of Myanmar," Fletcher wrote in a post on social media platform X.

Despite the efforts of international aid teams, the country’s military junta, which has ruled Myanmar since a 2021 coup, continues to complicate relief efforts. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing returned from a regional summit in Bangkok on April 4, where he met with the prime ministers of Thailand and India. His participation in the summit sparked protests, with demonstrators branding him a "murderer" in response to his role in the brutal military coup and ongoing conflict.

The military junta, which has faced multiple armed insurgencies, is reported to have launched dozens of attacks since the earthquake. According to the UN, at least 16 attacks have occurred since a temporary ceasefire was declared on April 2.

The ongoing violence and damaged infrastructure have significantly hindered international aid efforts. However, neighboring countries, including China, Russia, and India, have already dispatched rescue teams to Myanmar to assist in locating survivors.

The United States, traditionally a leader in global disaster relief, has pledged $7 million in new aid, adding to an earlier contribution of $2 million. However, relief efforts are strained due to the dismantling of the U.S. humanitarian aid agency under President Donald Trump’s administration.

By Vugar Khalilov