Myanmar’s earthquake death toll jumps to more than 1,600 as search efforts continue

The death toll of the death Power 7.7 between earthquake in Myanmar And Thailand jumped to more than 1,600 Saturday and it should increase as more research efforts are underway.

The country managed by the country’s soldiers said in a statement on Saturday that 1,644 people had been found dead, while the number of injured had increased to 3,408 with at least 139 missing, CBC BBC information partner reported. At least 10 people were killed in neighboring Bangkok.

Francesco Capoluongo, of the International Federation of the Red Cross in Myanmar, told the BBC with more than 18 million people living in the affected area of ​​the earthquake, they expect the number of deaths to increase.

“Research and rescue are still underway,” she said. “It is very difficult now to validate a figure, and we know that it will continue to increase and (that) many of these 18 million people are now homeless, access to drinking water, reliable health care.”

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is plagued by prolonged and bloody civil war, which is already responsible for a massive humanitarian crisis. This makes movement across the country that is both difficult and dangerous, complicating rescue efforts and raising fears that the number of deaths can still increase.

On Saturday evening, the national government of the Myanmar unit, which coordinates the popular fight against the military in power, announced a unilateral partial cease-fire to facilitate the help of rescue of earthquakes. He said in a statement that his armed wing, the popular defense force (PDF) will implement a two -week break in offensive military operations from Sunday in the areas affected by earthquakes.

He said that he “would collaborate with the UN and non -governmental organizations to guarantee the security, transport and creation of temporary rescue and medicine camps”, in his controlled areas.

The earthquake struck at noon on Friday with an epicenter not far from Mandalay, followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring a high magnitude of 6.4. He sent buildings in many areas reversing to the ground, completed the roads, caused the bridges collapsed and broke out a dam.

In the capital Naycyidaw, the crews worked on Saturday to repair damaged roads, while electricity, telephone and internet services were down for most of the city. The earthquake has shot down many buildings, including several units that sheltered government officials, but this city section was blocked by the authorities on Saturday.

The government said that more than 1,590 houses had been damaged in the Mandalay region, the epicenter of the earthquake.

Destruction in Thailand

In neighboring Thailand, the Quake has shaken the Grand Bangkok region, which houses some 17 million people and other parts of the country.

The authorities of the city of Bangkok have so far said that six people had been found dead, 26 injured and 47 are still missing, most of them on a construction site near the Chatchak popular market in the capital.

On Saturday, more heavy equipment was brought to move the tons of rubble, but the hope was upset with friends and family members of the missing that they would be found alive.

“I was praying for them to survive, but when I arrived here and I saw the ruin-where could they be? In what corner? Are they still alive? I always pray for the six to be alive,” said Naruemol Thonglek, 45, sobbing while she was waiting for news about her partner, who is myanmar, and five friends who worked on the site.

“I can’t accept this. When I see that, I can’t accept this. A close friend is there too,” she said.

Waenphet Panta said that she hadn’t heard of her daughter Kanlayanee for a phone call about an hour before the earthquake. A friend said Kanlayanee had worked at the top of the building on Friday.

“I pray that my daughter is safe, that she has survived and that she was in the hospital,” she said, Kanlayanee’s father sitting next to her.

Thai authorities said the earthquake and replicas had been felt in most of the country’s provinces. Many places in the North have reported damage to residential buildings, hospitals and temples, including in Chiang Mai, but the only victims were reported in Bangkok

International aid comes as rescuers require aid

After more than 24 hours of desperate research, many exhausted rescuers require a certain relief.
“We have been here since last night. We haven’t slept. No more help is necessary here,” the AFP aid worker told. “We have enough labor but we don’t have enough cars. We transport corpses using light trucks. About 10 to 20 bodies in a light truck.”

In a country where previous governments have sometimes been slow to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hlaing said myanmar was ready to accept external assistance.

China and Russia, the largest weapons suppliers to the Myanmar army, were among the first to intervene with humanitarian aid.

China said it has sent more than 135 rescue staff and experts as well as supplies such as medical kits and generators and have promised some $ 13.8 million in emergency humanitarian aid. The Russian Ministry of Emergency said that it had stolen from 120 rescuers and supplies.

India also sent a research and rescue team and a medical team while Malaysia said it would send 50 people on Sunday.

South Korea has said that it would provide humanitarian aid of $ 2 million through international organizations, and the UN allocated $ 5 million to start rescue efforts.

Hong Kong sent a group of 51 members of research and rescue staff to help the help of the earthquakes in Myanmar. The group includes firefighters and ambulance staff as well as two research and rescue dogs, among others.

President Trump said on Friday that the United States was going to help the response.

Trump told journalists in the oval office he had already spoken to the country officials and “it’s really bad, and we will help”.

However, some experts were concerned about this effort given the deep cuts of his administration in foreign assistance.

Natural disaster in addition to civil war

The Myanmar army seized the power of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and is now involved in a bloody civil war with long-established militias and new pro-democracies trained.

The military forces continued their attacks even after the earthquake, with three air strikes in the north of the state of Kayin, also called the state of Karenni, and Southern Shan – both from Border Mandalay State.

Eubank told the Associated Press that in the region in which he operated, most of the villages had already been destroyed by the army, so that the earthquake had little impact.

“People are in the jungle and I was in the jungle when the earthquake struck-it was powerful, but the trees had just moved, it was everything for us, so we had no direct impact that the Burmese army continues to attack, even after the earthquake,” he said.

In Northern Shan, an air strike in a village controlled by the rebels a few minutes after the earthquake killed seven militia members and damaged five buildings, including a school, said May Rukow, editor -in -chief of an online media news agency based in Shan, AP.

Government forces have lost control of a large part of the Myanmar, and many places are incredibly dangerous or simply impossible to reach for help groups. According to the United Nations, more than 3 million people have been moved by fighting and nearly 20 million need it, according to the United Nations.

“Although a complete image of the damage is still emerging, most of us have never seen such destruction,” said Haider Yaqub, director of the country of Myanmar for Inter International, of Yangon.

“Without a doubt, humanitarian needs will be important.”