Myanmar Earthquake Live Updates: Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 2,056, says Junta

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Monday recovered seven bodies from the earthquake flattened buildings in Mandalay region of Myanmar after the Indian rescuers were tasked with launching relief and rescue operations in about a dozen buildings, official sources said. The Myanmarese authorities have assigned various sectors to different foreign rescue agencies which have come to help the country that was shaken by a devastating 7.7-magnitude quake on Friday claiming 1,700 lives till now.

The NDRF has been asked to work in 13 buildings in Sector D of Mandalay city, the second largest urban area of the country, about 65 kms from the airport in capital Naypitaw.

The death toll from last week's powerful earthquake in Myanmar has exceeded 2,000, state media reported Monday, with hundreds killed while praying in mosques and at least 270 Buddhist monks crushed in a collapsed monastery. Aid groups and the United Nations warn the disaster could worsen hunger and disease outbreaks in a country already struggling with civil war and restricted humanitarian access.

The 7.7-magnitude quake struck Friday near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, damaging its airport, destroying roads, and toppling hundreds of buildings across central regions.

Relief efforts face significant challenges, including power outages, fuel shortages, and unreliable communication networks. A lack of heavy equipment has slowed rescue operations, forcing survivors to dig through rubble by hand in sweltering temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F).

Japan has dispatched an expert assessment team to Myanmar following the devastating earthquake that struck the country on Friday, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale.

The mission was organised through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the five-member team includes JICA personnel and medical staff. Their primary role is to assess the needs and security conditions on the ground and to coordinate the potential deployment of a Japanese disaster relief team.

In parallel, the Japanese government, through JICA, has begun preparing emergency aid supplies, including food, water, and medical items, to support those affected by the disaster.

Myanmar will hold a minute's silence on Tuesday to remember the victims of the country's devastating earthquake, which has killed more than 2,000 people, the ruling junta said.

The country will come to a standstill at 12:51:02 pm (0621 GMT) -- the precise time the 7.7-magnitude quake struck on Friday -- the junta said in a statement to journalists on Monday.

The death toll from a major earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 2,056, the ruling junta said Monday, with more than 3,900 people injured.

A statement from a junta spokesperson said that 270 more people were still missing, three days after Friday's shallow 7.7-magnitude quake.

The European Union, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and others have announced millions of dollars in aid, either directly or through local partners and international organizations.

US President Donald Trump has said Washington would help, but so far there has been no known assistance to Myanmar.

A mild earthquake of magnitude 3.5 struck Shi Yomi district in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday afternoon, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported.

The tremor occurred at 14:38 IST at a depth of 10 km, with its epicentre located at latitude 28.88°N and longitude 94.34°E.

No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received.

The death toll from the earthquake that hit Myanmar has risen to more than 1,700 as more bodies have been pulled from the rubble, the country’s military-led government said Monday.
Government spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told state-run MRTV that another 3,400 have been injured and more than 300 were missing. The military had previously reported 1,644 dead but did not provide specific figures in its update.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit at midday Friday, causing widespread damage, including in the capital Naypitaw and the second largest city, Mandalay.

It was the time of Friday prayers for the country's Muslim minority during the holy month of Ramadan, and some 700 worshippers were killed when mosques collapsed, said Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network. It was not clear whether they were already included in the official count of casualties.

Tun Kyi said some 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed when the earthquake struck, and videos posted on The Irrawaddy online news site showed several mosques toppling during the quake, and people fleeing from the areas.

In Mandalay, 270 monks were taking a religious exam at the U Hla Thein monastery when the quake hit, crumpling the building.

Rescue workers at the scene Monday said 70 were able to escape, but 50 have already been found dead and 150 are still unaccounted for.

The true number of people killed and injured across the regions hit is thought to be possibly many times the official figures, but with telecommunication outages and extreme challenges to movement around the country, little is known about the damage in many areas.

“We're really not clear on the scale of the destruction at this stage,” Lauren Ellery, deputy director of programs in Myanmar for the International Rescue Committee, told The Associated Press.

There is a state of emergency in six regions, and Ellery said her teams on the ground and their local partners are currently assessing where needs are the greatest, while providing emergency medical care, humanitarian supplies and other assistance.

“They were talking about a town near Mandalay where 80% of the buildings were reportedly collapsed, but it wasn't in the news because telecommunications have been slow,” she said.

“Even in areas where there isn't so much impact, our partner reported to us on Saturday that there were landslides stopping them reaching one of the villages.”

The earthquake, centered near Mandalay — a city of some 1.5 million, brought down buildings and damaged other infrastructure like the city’s airport.

A lack of heavy machinery has slowed search and rescue operations, forcing many to slowly search for survivors by hand in the relentless heat, with daily temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

The earthquake also shock neighboring Thailand and killed at least 18 people, many at a construction site in Bangkok where a partially built high-rise collapsed.

Another 33 have been reported injured and 78 missing, primarily at the construction site near the popular Chatuchak market.

Heavy equipment was shut down and authorities urged onlookers to be silent as they used machines to try and detect any signs of life from under the rubble.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters at the scene that signs had been detected Sunday night, though experts could not determine whether it had been machine error.

Nonetheless, he said he still had hope survivors would be found.

“Even if one life is saved, it is worth all the effort,” he said.

A Myanmar Muslim organization says more than 700 worshipers were killed when the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country at Friday prayer time during the holy month of Ramadan.
Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network, said Monday that some 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed when the 7.7 magnitude quake hit near Mandalay, the country’s second largest city.

It was not immediately clear whether those killed in the mosques were included in the official toll of more than 1,700 people killed in the earthquake so far.

Videos posted on The Irrawaddy online news site showed several mosques toppling during the quake, and people fleeing from the areas.

Tun Kyi said most of the mosques damaged were older buildings more vulnerable to earthquakes.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

MANDALAY, Myanmar (AP) — The death toll from the earthquake that hit Myanmar has risen to more than 1,700 as more bodies have been pulled from the rubble, the country’s military-led government said Monday.

Government spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told state-run MRTV that another 3,400 have been injured and more than 300 were missing.

He did not provide more specific figures.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit at midday Friday, causing widespread damage, including in the capital Naypitaw and the second largest city, Mandalay.

The earthquake, whose epicenter was near Mandalay, brought down scores of buildings and damaged other infrastructure like the city’s airport.

Relief efforts have been hampered by buckled roads, downed bridges, spotty communications and the challenges of operating in a country engaged in a civil war.

In neighboring Thailand, the quake rocked much of the country and killed at least 18 people, many at a construction site in Bangkok where a partially built high-rise collapsed.

Hopes were fading Monday of finding more survivors in the rubble of Mandalay, where some residents spent a third night sleeping in the open after a massive earthquake killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand.
Rescue efforts were less active in the central Myanmar city of more than 1.7 million people early Monday, but conditions are difficult -- with temperatures expected to reach around 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

The sticky heat has exhausted rescue workers and accelerated body decomposition, which could complicate identification.

A desperate scene unfolded at a collapsed apartment block in Myanmar's second biggest city on Sunday evening, when rescuers thought they had saved the life of a pregnant woman trapped under the rubble for more than 55 hours.

They amputated her leg to free her, but after pulling her out she was pronounced dead.

"We tried everything to save her," said one of the medical responders, but she had lost too much blood from the amputation.

Muslim worshipers, meanwhile, gathered near a destroyed mosque in the city on Monday morning for the first prayer of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that follows the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

Funerals for hundreds of victims are also expected to take place on Monday.

The initial 7.7-magnitude quake struck near Mandalay early Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.

The tremors collapsed buildings, downed bridges and buckled roads, with some of the worst destruction seen in central Myanmar.

- Aftershocks cause panic -

Aftershocks continued to be felt in Mandalay over the weekend, spurring residents to flee into the streets in multiple instances of brief panic.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an emergency appeal Sunday for more than $100 million to help victims.

The world's largest humanitarian network said needs were growing by the hour as rising temperatures and the approaching monsoon season increase the risk of "secondary crises".

The challenges facing the Southeast Asian country of over 50 million people were immense even before the earthquake.

Myanmar has been ravaged by four years of civil war sparked by a military coup in 2021.

Reports have emerged of sporadic fighting even after the quake, with one rebel group telling AFP on Sunday that seven of its fighters were killed in an aerial attack soon after the tremors hit.

Before Friday's quake, some 3.5 million people were displaced by the raging civil war, many at risk of hunger.

Rescue efforts are underway in Myanmar after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country, killing at least 1,700 people and leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The quake, which was felt as far away as Bangkok and Chinese provinces, has left many more injured or trapped under rubble, CNN reported.

At least 1,700 people are dead and around 3,400 injured, according to the country's military government. Nearly 300 others remain missing.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people based on early modeling, as per CNN.

The earthquake's epicenter was located in Myanmar's central Sagaing region, near the historic city of Mandalay. The region, home to over 1.5 million people, has been severely affected, with multiple buildings, bridges, and temples destroyed or damaged.

In Bangkok, the earthquake's impact was devastating, with at least 18 people killed and dozens more trapped under the rubble of a collapsed high-rise building. The building, which was under construction, came crashing down in a matter of minutes, claiming the lives of 11 people.

According to CNN, seven more fatalities were reported elsewhere in the capital as authorities scrambled to respond to the disaster. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with around 80 people still missing. Families of the missing are gathering at the site of the collapsed building, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

The earthquake that struck Myanmar was the most powerful to hit the country in over a century, with a magnitude of 7.7. It was followed by a series of aftershocks, including a 6.7-magnitude tremor, which continued to rattle the region throughout the weekend.

Rescue teams are racing against time to reach those affected, particularly in areas cut off by the collapse of a key bridge over the Irrawaddy River. With many still unaccounted for, experts fear that the true death toll may take weeks to emerge.

Meanwhile, foreign aid and international rescue teams have started arriving in Myanmar after the military junta issued a rare plea for help.

Friday's quake was the deadliest natural disaster to hit the country in years and comes as Myanmar reels from a civil war that, since 2021, has damaged communication networks, battered health infrastructure and left millions without adequate food and shelter.

The level of devastation that has wreaked in the country "hasn't been seen in over a century in Asia," according to an official from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The impact of the earthquake will be felt "for the next few weeks," Marie Manrique, Myanmar program coordinator for the IFRC, told CNN's Lynda Kinkade, suggesting that the numbers of deaths and injuries were likely to rise as some people were still trapped under collapsed buildings.

Fourteen Chinese nationals were injured in the massive earthquake that struck Myanmar, the Chinese embassy confirmed on Sunday. The 7.7 magnitude quake hit midday Friday with an epicentre near Myanmar's Mandalay city, killing more than 1,600 people and leaving countless others buried.
The Chinese embassy in Myanmar said that 14 Chinese nationals were also injured in the earthquake.

Besides sending relief teams, China has announced 100 million yuan (about USD 13.9 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to support earthquake relief efforts, a spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency said.

China also sent a chartered flight carrying 7.3 tonnes of relief goods from Kunming, according to official media reports.

The quake was also felt on the China-Myanmar border.

Two people were reported injured in China's Yunnan Province, according to the provincial earthquake agency.

Many residents in the provincial capital of Kunming, some 776 km from the China-Myanmar border, went or stayed outdoors to escape danger upon feeling the quake tremor. Strong tremors were felt in several prefectures and cities across Yunnan, including Xishuangbanna, Baoshan, Dehong and Pu'er, state-run Xinhua reported.

China, Russia and India have dispatched emergency teams and supplies to earthquake-ravaged Myanmar. So have Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The United States, the richest country in the world and once its most generous provider of foreign aid, has sent nothing.

Even as President Donald Trump was dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, he said that American help was on its way to Myanmar, where a 7.7 magnitude earthquake ripped through the country's heavily populated center Friday. More than 1,700 people were killed, according to Myanmar's military government, with the death toll expected to climb steeply as more bodies are uncovered in the rubble and rescue teams reach remote villages.

But a three-person USAID assessment team is not expected to arrive until Wednesday, people with knowledge of the deployment efforts said. The overall U.S. response has been slower than under normal circumstances, people who have worked on earlier disaster relief efforts as well as on aid to Myanmar said.

Chinese search-and-rescue teams, complete with dogs trained to sniff out trapped people, are already on the ground in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city and one of the places most deeply affected by the quake. China has pledged $14 million for Myanmar quake relief, sending 126 rescue workers and six dogs, along with medical kits, drones and earthquake detectors.

"Being charitable and being seen as charitable serves American foreign policy," said Michael Schiffer, the assistant administrator of the USAID bureau for Asia from 2022 until earlier this year. "If we don't show up and China shows up, that sends a pretty strong message."

The World Health Organization said Sunday the Myanmar earthquake was a top-level emergency as it urgently sought $8 million to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days.
The WHO said the high numbers of casualties and trauma injuries were at high risk of infection due to limited surgical capacity in the country, while the underlying conditions in Myanmar meant the quake was likely to intensify the risk of disease.

"WHO has classified this crisis as a Grade 3 emergency -- the highest level of activation under its Emergency Response Framework," the United Nations health agency said in its flash appeal for funds.

The initial 7.7-magnitude quake struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay on Friday, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The quake has killed more than 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 18 in neighbouring Thailand.

In Myanmar, "preliminary assessments indicate high numbers of casualties and trauma-related injuries, with urgent needs for emergency care. Electricity and water supplies remain disrupted, worsening access to health services and heightening risks of waterborne and food-borne disease outbreaks," the WHO said.

A pregnant woman whose leg was amputated to free her after more than two days trapped in a collapsed Mandalay apartment block was pronounced dead shortly afterwards, AFP journalists at the scene saw.

Rescuers thought they had saved the life of Mathu Thu Lwin but were unable to resuscitate her after extracting her from the wreckage of the Sky Villa Condominium apartment complex, demolished by a huge earthquake which hit Myanmar on Friday.

She was eventually brought out soon after 8:00 pm (0130 GMT) and doctors examined her, performing CPR on a gurney, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

"We tried everything to save her," said one of the medical team, but she had lost too much blood from having a leg amputated to free her.

(Report: AFP)

Newly released satellite images have exposed the full extent of devastation in Myanmar following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday. The images, captured by Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies, show widespread destruction across central Myanmar, where entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble.

Two days after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, powerful aftershocks continue to rattle Mandalay, hindering rescue efforts. A 6.7-magnitude aftershock hit minutes after the initial quake, followed by multiple smaller tremors, including a 5.1-magnitude shock on Sunday afternoon that temporarily halted search operations.

Rescuers are still pulling survivors from collapsed buildings, but the death toll has climbed to at least 1,700 in Myanmar and 18 in Thailand. Myanmar's junta has issued a rare appeal for international aid, as a severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering relief efforts. The ongoing tremors add to the challenges faced by rescue teams working through the rubble.

Death's smell clung heavy in the burning sun as grasping hands dug through piles of wreckage, hoping against hope for some sign of life beneath the rubble of Myanmar's second-largest city. Two days since a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake had torn the nation asunder, the streets of Mandalay were a cemetery—bodies lying rotting in the blinding sun, survivors crying out for dead loved ones, and a nation on the verge of collapse. The powerful earthquake devastated the region and killed over 1,600 people and buried many more.

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand, with Myanmar suffering the greatest devastation. The death toll has risen to 1,644, with over 3,400 injured and 139 missing. While international aid is arriving, Myanmar is facing a severe shortage of medical supplies, including trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, and essential medicines, hampering rescue efforts.

China, India, Russia, and several other nations have sent medical teams, emergency hospitals, and financial aid, while the UN and humanitarian organizations, including the Red Cross, have allocated emergency funds. Despite these efforts, overwhelmed hospitals are struggling to treat the injured, and urgent medical supplies are desperately needed to save lives.

A devastating earthquake has killed over 1,600 people in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting a global relief effort. China, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the WHO have deployed rescue teams and aid supplies. The UN and Red Cross are mobilizing emergency response, with the Red Cross launching a $100 million appeal. Financial assistance has been pledged by the US, EU, Britain, Ireland, South Korea, and New Zealand. The relief efforts focus on medical aid, search and rescue, and humanitarian support.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' International Federation initiated a critical funding request on Sunday, seeking over $100 million in aid for Myanmar earthquake survivors.

The IFRC, leading global humanitarian assistance, reported widespread devastation from Friday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay's central region, with urgent requirements increasing rapidly.

"To scale up support, the IFRC launches an emergency appeal for 100 million Swiss francs ($115 million) to assist 100,000 people (20,000 households) with life-saving relief and early recovery support over the next 24 months," it said in a statement.

Emergency assistance has flowed into Southeast Asia following a devastating earthquake that affected Myanmar and Thailand. The primary focus of relief operations is on Myanmar.

The casualties from Friday's 7.7 magnitude earthquake are anticipated to rise further, with 3,408 people reported injured and 139 individuals missing on Sunday.

The neighbouring country of Thailand reported 17 deaths.

Despite the arrival of essential supplies including food and medicine in Myanmar, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released a report on Saturday highlighting significant challenges in rescue operations due to critical shortages of medical resources, including trauma kits, blood bags, anaesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines and accommodation facilities for healthcare workers.

India has sent relief materials, rescue teams and medical equipment in five military aircraft to Myanmar to help victims of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that killed over 1,600 people and injured nearly 3,000. India mounted its relief mission -- named 'Operation Brahma' as a swift response to the devastation caused by the earthquake that hit Myanmar as well as Thailand on Friday.

New Delhi dispatched relief materials, medicines, an 80-member search and rescue team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and military field hospitals to Myanmar in three C-130J and two C-17 Globemaster aircraft.

A specialised rescue team from Indian Army's 50 (I) Para Brigade has also been swiftly deployed to Myanmar, officials said.

The team, comprising 118 personnel, including medical and communication units, landed at Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday night.

The team will primarily focus on rescue operations in Mandalay, the officials said.

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Myanmar's second-largest city on Sunday, the USGS reported, following a series of aftershocks after Friday's catastrophic earthquake. Residents of Mandalay screamed as the aftershock occurred.

The initial 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Friday struck near the city, causing numerous buildings to collapse and infrastructure damage. The death toll has exceeded 1,600 people, with more than 3,400 individuals unaccounted for, and these figures are likely to increase.

On Sunday, emergency response teams began arriving in Myanmar's most severely affected regions following the powerful earthquake that claimed over 1,600 lives. Their rescue operations face significant obstacles including damaged roads, collapsed bridges, unreliable communications, and the complexities of working in a nation experiencing civil conflict.

The primary earthquake, measuring 7.7 in magnitude, occurred at midday Friday near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city. The impact resulted in widespread building collapses and damage to vital infrastructure, including the city's airport.

The deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar on Friday had as much energy as more than 300 atomic bombs combined, according to a leading American geologist. “The force that a quake like this releases is about 334 atomic bombs,” geologist Jess Phoenix told CNN.

She also cautioned that aftershocks from the earthquake, the death toll from which has surpassed 1,600, "could persist for months." This is because the Indian tectonic plate continues to collide with the Eurasian plate beneath Myanmar, the geologist noted. Phoenix further said there could be hindrances in grasping the full extent of the catastrophe.

"Myanmar's ongoing civil war, combined with a communication blackout, is obstructing the outside world from grasping the full impact of the earthquake," she stated.

Residents frantically searched through ruined buildings for survivors whilst aftershocks continued to shake the devastated city of Mandalay, following a catastrophic earthquake that claimed over 1,600 lives in Myanmar and 17 in Thailand two days prior.

The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay on Friday afternoon, with a 6.7-magnitude aftershock following shortly afterwards.

The seismic activity caused widespread destruction in the city of 1.7 million inhabitants, resulting in collapsed buildings, damaged bridges and distorted roadways.

Early Sunday morning, Win Lwin, who owns a tea shop, carefully navigated through the debris of a fallen restaurant on his neighbourhood's main street, removing bricks one at a time.

"About seven people died here" when the quake struck Friday, he told AFP. "I'm looking for more bodies but I know there cannot be any survivors," he said.

"We don't know how many bodies there could be but we are looking," he added.

The death toll in Bangkok from a massive earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand rose to 17 on Sunday, city authorities said.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority said 32 people were injured and 83 still unaccounted for -- most from the site of a 30-storey tower block under construction that collapsed when the magnitude 7.7 quake struck Friday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed that an Israeli professional rescue and aid team be sent to Thailand to help with the aftermath of the earthquake there.

The team will depart Israel tonight at 10:30 PM and will include 21 professionals. It will assist in population-based and engineering rescue, and will operate until the last trapped person is rescued.

Following a devastating earthquake that claimed over 1,600 lives in Myanmar and Thailand, various nations and organisations have initiated relief operations.

India has commenced aid delivery with a C-130 military transport aircraft carrying essential supplies, including hygiene kits and food parcels. Additional support includes four more aircraft and two navy vessels with personnel and a field hospital.

China's contribution involves an 82-member rescue team and a separate team from Yunnan province arriving in Yangon. Beijing has pledged 100 million yuan ($13.8 million) in emergency assistance, with deliveries scheduled to begin Monday.

The WHO is coordinating its response from Geneva, preparing trauma supplies through its Dubai logistics hub. Their spokesperson Margaret Harris emphasised the significant scale of the disaster and its health implications.

The UN's OCHA has begun emergency response coordination, highlighting critical shortages in medical supplies, including trauma kits, blood bags and essential medicines.

US President Donald Trump has committed to providing assistance, acknowledging the severity of the situation during his Oval Office statement.

Malaysia's contribution includes deploying 50 rescue personnel. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan confirmed ASEAN's readiness to support both affected member nations, Myanmar and Thailand.

The WHO considers this a significant event requiring comprehensive emergency management response, whilst OCHA continues coordinating with partner organisations to address the pressing humanitarian needs.

The scale of destruction has left many survivors struggling to comprehend what happened. “It’s like a ruined city,” said a resident from Mandalay. "So many people are still trapped. I’ve never seen anything shake like that before." In Bangkok’s Chinatown, a tourist described how panic spread through a busy shopping area when the ground suddenly started to move. "People started screaming and pushing to get out through the narrow exits," he recalled. "We were all running for our lives."

Authorities have confirmed at least five deaths at the Bangkok skyscraper collapse site alone, but the overall death toll from the earthquake has soared past 1,600. With many more believed to be buried under the rubble, families have gathered at disaster sites, anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones. "We are hoping for a miracle," one distraught relative said. Rescuers are working tirelessly, but collapsed buildings, unstable debris, and aftershocks continue to hamper their efforts.

The UK has announced £10 million ($12.9 million) in humanitarian aid for Myanmar following a powerful earthquake that has killed more than 1,600 people. The funding will support emergency food, water, medicine, and shelter in the hardest-hit areas, the UK Foreign Office said on Saturday.

"UK-funded local partners are already mobilising a humanitarian response on the ground," said Development Minister Jennifer Chapman, who also expressed her condolences to the people of Myanmar.

Myanmar’s ruling junta, which rarely seeks international assistance, made an appeal for aid after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central parts of the country. Despite strained relations, the UK has stepped in to provide relief, even as it maintains sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the military regime.

Anti-coup fighters in Myanmar have declared a two-week ceasefire in parts of the country to allow rescue and relief efforts after a devastating earthquake. The People's Defence Force (PDF), an armed group opposing the military junta, said it would pause offensive operations in affected areas from March 30, 2025, while continuing defensive actions.

The announcement came from the shadow "National Unity Government" (NUG), which pledged to work with the UN and NGOs to ensure the safety of relief operations. The NUG, formed by lawmakers ousted in the 2021 coup, also plans to help set up temporary medical and rescue camps in regions under its control.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, with the epicentre near Sagaing. The military junta has reported at least 1,644 deaths in Myanmar, while about 10 people were killed in neighbouring Thailand.

In Bangkok, a construction worker described his miraculous escape as a high-rise building under construction collapsed in seconds. "I had just stepped outside to get some water when I saw a massive cloud of dust," Khin Aung recounted. "I video-called my brother who was still inside, but the call suddenly dropped. Seconds later, the entire building was gone." The Chatuchak district was among the hardest hit, with up to 100 workers feared to be trapped beneath the debris. The collapse has left authorities scrambling to assess the full scale of the disaster.

India has stepped up its relief efforts in Myanmar following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, with two C-17 aircraft carrying 60 tonnes of relief material and a 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital Unit landing in the country.

The Indian Army's medical team includes specialists in Women and Child Care services and is part of Operation Brahma, India's humanitarian mission to support Myanmar in the wake of the disaster. The Indian Army will also set up a 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre to provide emergency care, trauma treatment, and essential medical services to those affected.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, highlighted India's commitment to being a first responder in regional crises. "With these, five relief flights have landed in Myanmar today," Jaiswal stated in a post on X.

In Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, rescue teams are engaged in desperate efforts to reach those still buried under rubble. A rescue worker recalled the heart-wrenching moment when they heard a voice calling for help but couldn't reach the trapped victim. "We can only find people where we hear them," he said. The situation at a goldsmith’s shop was especially dire, with officials reporting that 17 people remained trapped. Despite continuous efforts, unstable debris and blocked pathways have slowed down rescue operations.

As Myanmar and Thailand grapple with the devastation of a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake, survivors have shared their harrowing experiences of escaping death. "It lasted around three to four minutes, but it felt like an eternity," a resident from Mandalay said. "The city shook violently, people were screaming, and buildings crumbled in seconds." Many who survived were those fortunate enough to be outdoors when the tremors struck, while others barely managed to flee collapsing structures.

Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis is escalating, with food shortages worsening after the earthquake. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that it may have to stop most food rations by April due to a lack of funding. Around 15.2 million people are struggling to meet their basic food needs, with 2.3 million facing emergency hunger levels.

Meanwhile, the US recently froze foreign aid for 90 days, affecting refugee assistance and hospital care for displaced Myanmar citizens. Many NGOs and hospitals along the Myanmar-Thailand border have already shut down due to funding cuts. With aid programs vanishing and hunger rising, the crisis in Myanmar is growing more severe, leaving millions without essential support.

Even after the earthquake’s destruction, Myanmar’s military has continued airstrikes in conflict zones. Attacks were reported in Sagaing, Kayin, and Bago regions, with pro-democracy groups confirming bombings near the quake’s epicentre. Humanitarian groups, including the Free Burma Rangers, have reported multiple airstrikes in Shan and Kareni states since the disaster.

The military, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, has faced growing resistance from pro-democracy forces and ethnic militias since the 2021 coup. Despite losing control over several regions, it continues aggressive military campaigns. The latest airstrikes have worsened the suffering of civilians already struggling with displacement and food shortages. The disaster has not slowed the military’s offensives, leaving people trapped between conflict and catastrophe.

A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand, leaving over 1,600 people dead and more than 3,400 injured in Myanmar. The disaster has worsened an already dire situation, as the country battles a prolonged civil war, food shortages, and economic instability. Buildings, bridges, and dams have collapsed, with communication networks severely disrupted.

Many survivors lack access to essential supplies, making relief efforts even harder. The situation is particularly alarming in Myanmar, where over 3 million people had already been displaced due to conflict. International aid remains limited, and with mobile networks down, the full extent of the destruction is still unclear. The disaster has deepened Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis, leaving millions in desperate need of help.

Intensifying its relief and rescue efforts in earthquake-hit Myanmar under 'Operation Brahma', India on Saturday dispatched two naval ships to the neighbouring country while deploying a 118-member army field hospital to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a briefing that two more Indian naval ships would follow under this humanitarian assistance operation. A senior Indian Navy officer stated that the first ship carrying 10 tonnes of relief material left in the early hours, while the second departed on Saturday afternoon, with both expected to reach off Yangon on March 31.

India's Operation Brahma continues with two C-17 aircraft carrying a 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital Unit, including Women & Child Care services, and 60 tonnes of relief material landing in Myanmar, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweeted. He added that a total of five relief flights from India have landed in Myanmar today.