Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Crosses 1,000, India To Send Two More Relief Planes

A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake in central Myanmar has claimed over 1,000 lives, causing widespread destruction.

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Crosses 1,000

Source : X/@UNICEF

The death toll from the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has crossed 1,000 mark, junta said, news agency AFP reported. The quake hit the central Myanmar city of Mandalay on Friday sending strong tremors in neighbouring Thailand.

Buildings collapsed, bridges were downed, and roads cracked across large parts of Myanmar. The devastation extended to Thailand, where a 30-storey skyscraper under construction in Bangkok crumbled, killing several people.

Meanwhile, two more Indian Air Force (IAF) aircrafts are being loaded with relief material under 'Operation Brahma' for Myanmar and the planes will soon depart from AFS Hindon.

Earlier, the C17 aircraft of the IAF, carrying 15 tonnes of relief materials reached Yangon on Saturday morning, said Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.

"Operation Brahma - India acts as a First Responder to assist the people of Myanmar affected by yesterday's massive earthquake," Jaiswal said in a post on X.

"Our first tranche of 15 tonnes of relief material, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, food packets, hygiene kits, generators, and essential medicines has landed in Yangon," he added. 

Operation Brahma - India acts as a First Responder to assist the people of Myanmar affected by yesterday's massive earthquake.

Our first tranche of 15 tonnes of relief material, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, food packets, hygiene kits, generators, and essential… pic.twitter.com/6Nx7Bez9ne

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 29, 2025

The US Geological Service's automated system, Pager, which estimates fatalities and cost of damage has estimated that the violent quake has the potential to leave more than 10,000 people dead, reported the BBC. 

However, it is just an estimiate and is computed based on the intensity of the shaking and the population in the affected area, among other factors.

Aftershocks Continue To Rock Mandalay

Minor shocks have continued to rock Mandalay through Friday until Saturday morning.

According to the BBC Burmese, Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has not been affected by the earthquakes and remains in jail in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. She was detained since a coup overthrew her government in 2021. 

Search and rescue operations are underway in Myanmar and Thailand where three people died after an under-construction 30-storey skyscraper flattened to debris in capital Bangkok.