Myanmar Struggles With Rescue Operations, Hospitals Overwhelmed As Death Toll Rises To 1,700

Myanmar's rescue efforts following the earthquake face challenges due to damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed hospitals; the death toll has reached 1,700.

Rescue workers continue their efforts in Myanmar.

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The death toll from the devastating Myanmar earthquake has risen to 1,700 as of Sunday, with 3,400 others injured and more than 300 still missing. The 7.7-magnitude quake, one of the strongest to hit Myanmar in a century, struck the country on Friday, leaving widespread destruction.

According to Reuters, foreign rescue teams and aid have rushed into the nation, but hospitals remain overwhelmed, and many communities are struggling to carry out rescue operations with limited resources.

The widespread destruction of critical infrastructure—including bridges, highways, airports, and railways—has severely hampered humanitarian efforts in Myanmar.

The junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, had warned that the number of fatalities could rise three days after he made a rare call for international assistance. India, China and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia, reported Reuters.

However, residents in the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing reported that international aid had yet to arrive, raising concerns over severe shortages of food, electricity, and water. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said that the destruction has been extensive and humanitarian aid should be “growing by the hour”.

'Earthquake After The Coup'

The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations" and said in a statement, USAID announced that an emergency response team is being deployed to Myanmar, despite the agency undergoing massive budget cuts under the Trump administration.

The disaster has added to Myanmar’s suffering, a country already in chaos due to a civil war that erupted following the 2021 military coup, which overthrew the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The ongoing conflict continues to devastate the economy, displace over 3.5 million people, and cripple the already struggling healthcare system. The military council has rejected requests from international journalists to cover the devastation, citing the lack of water, electricity and hotels.