Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 3,564 as rescue efforts wind down

The death toll from last month’s catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar has risen to at least 3,564, and hopes of finding survivors continue to fade, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

The 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck on March 28, has left more than 5,000 people injured and over 200 still unaccounted for. Ten more bodies were recently pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city and one of the hardest-hit areas due to its proximity to the epicentre.

Myanmar’s fire services department announced that rescue teams from India, Malaysia, and Singapore have completed their missions and returned home. However, efforts to continue recovery and relief operations have been severely hindered by heavy rains and strong winds over the weekend, which also worsened the conditions for thousands left homeless by the quake.

Forecasters have warned of further thunderstorms in the coming days, raising concerns among aid agencies about the potential spread of waterborne diseases in makeshift shelters. Save the Children issued a stark warning on Monday about increasing health risks, especially for displaced children.

“The situation right now is desperate for children and their families,” said Jeremy Stoner, the charity’s interim Asia regional director. “After being forced to flee from their ruined homes, they are now facing unseasonably early rains on top of the brutal heat. With clean water in short supply, it's difficult for people to maintain proper hygiene – and that can lead to disease outbreaks.”

He added that the organisation fears a rise in cases of diarrhoea and cholera among children if immediate health and sanitation measures are not implemented.

The disaster has compounded the humanitarian crisis already gripping Myanmar since the military coup in 2021, which plunged the country into a protracted civil conflict. While both the ruling junta and opposition forces have declared temporary ceasefires in quake-affected areas to facilitate aid delivery, mutual accusations of truce violations have continued.

On April 4, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk appealed for all military operations to cease.

“I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake, as well as ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian organisations that are ready to support,” Türk said.

With thousands still displaced and essential infrastructure in ruins, the need for coordinated international assistance remains urgent. Humanitarian agencies continue to call for safe access to affected regions, warning that the aftermath of the disaster may trigger a second wave of suffering if aid does not reach those in need swiftly.

By Khagan Isayev