Myanmar Declares Week Of National Mourning As Earthquake Death Toll Exceeds 2,000
Myanmar is in mourning after an earthquake claimed over 2,000 lives, with hopes of finding survivors fading. Mandalay, the second-largest city, is severely affected, with thousands homeless.
Myanmar has declared a week of national mourning following a powerful earthquake that has claimed over 2,000 lives, with rescue efforts slowing as hopes of finding more survivors diminish. The ruling junta announced that national flags would fly at half-mast until 6 April “in sympathy for the loss of life and damages” caused by Friday’s massive 7.7-magnitude quake.
The disaster has hit Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city with 1.7 million residents, particularly hard. Thousands have been left homeless, camping on the streets for a third consecutive night, fearing aftershocks.
“The situation is so dire that it’s hard to express what is happening,” Aung Myint Hussein, chief administrator of Mandalay’s Sajja North mosque, told reporters, as per news agency AFP.
According to the junta, the death toll has climbed to 2,056, with more than 3,900 people injured and 270 still missing. Three Chinese nationals were among the deceased, as confirmed by China’s state media, while France’s foreign ministry reported the deaths of two French citizens, as per AFP's report.
The tremors were felt beyond Myanmar’s borders, with at least 19 fatalities reported in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, after a 30-storey under-construction building collapsed.
Due to damaged communication networks in parts of Myanmar, the true extent of the disaster remains unclear, and authorities fear the toll could rise further.
Patients Now Being Treated Outdoors After 1,000-Bed Mandalay Hospital Evacuated
Mandalay’s 1,000-bed general hospital has been evacuated, and hundreds of patients are now being treated outdoors. Images from the hospital grounds show patients lying on gurneys in the car park, shielded from the scorching tropical sun by thin tarpaulin sheets.
“This is a very, very imperfect condition for everyone,” said a medic, speaking anonymously, as per the report. “We’re trying to do what we can here. We are trying our best.”
The intense heat has not only exhausted rescue teams but has also sped up body decomposition, making identification efforts more difficult, the report stated.
Despite the devastation, signs of normalcy have started returning to Mandalay. Traffic resumed on Monday, street vendors reopened, and hundreds of Muslims gathered outside a destroyed mosque for Eid al-Fitr prayers.
Myanmar, already struggling with a four-year-long civil war following the 2021 military coup, now faces an even greater crisis. The country’s shattered economy, weakened healthcare system, and ongoing conflict have compounded the challenges of disaster response.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorised the earthquake as a top-level emergency and is seeking $8 million in immediate aid to prevent disease outbreaks. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has also launched an appeal for over $100 million to assist the victims.
In a rare move, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing appealed for international assistance, with aid and rescue teams arriving from key allies. Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun expressed gratitude to China, Russia, and India for their support, stating, “We are trying and giving treatment to injured people and searching for missing ones.”
Myanmar Military Strikes Amid Earthquake Disaster
Despite the earthquake’s devastation, reports suggest Myanmar’s military has continued its offensive against ethnic minority armed groups. The AFP reported that seven fighters from one such group were killed in an airstrike soon after the quake, with further aerial attacks reported on Monday.
Myanmar’s ongoing civil war has displaced approximately 3.5 million people, further complicating rescue and relief efforts in quake-hit areas.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, authorities continued clearing debris from the collapsed building, with officials holding out hope for more survivors. At least 12 deaths have been confirmed at the site, while 75 people remain unaccounted for.
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