By The Sampadak Express
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar has risen to 2,056, with over 3,900 people injured, according to the military junta. An additional 270 people remain missing, and rescue operations continue despite challenges posed by the damage.
In response to the disaster, Myanmar’s junta has declared a week of national mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast until April 6 to honor the lives lost and the extensive damage caused.
The earthquake, which struck with a magnitude of 7.7, devastated Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to over 1.7 million residents. Aung Myint Hussein, chief administrator of the Sajja North mosque in Mandalay, described the situation as “so dire that it’s hard to express what is happening.”
With buildings reduced to rubble, many residents have been forced to sleep on the streets for a third consecutive night. Unable to return to their damaged homes or fearing aftershocks, they have set up makeshift shelters on the roads, with some using tents, while others, including children, have slept on blankets in the open.
The earthquake also claimed the lives of three Chinese nationals and two French citizens. With widespread communication disruptions across the country, the full extent of the disaster remains unclear, and the death toll is expected to rise as more information becomes available.
Tremors from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake also affected neighboring countries, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of India. In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, the quake caused the collapse of a 30-storey construction tower, leaving at least 19 confirmed dead.
The ongoing relief efforts are being hampered by the scale of destruction, but authorities continue to work toward locating survivors and providing assistance to those affected.
