Myanmar’s earthquake death toll jumps to more than 1,600 as search efforts continue

Death toll from 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar And Thailand exceeded 1,600 on Saturday and it is expected that more search efforts are underway.

CBS news partner BBC said that the country’s military -led government said in a statement on Saturday that 1,644 people have been found dead, while the number of injured was at least 139 with disappearance to 3,408, CBS news partner BBC said. At least 10 people were killed in neighboring Bangkok.

Francesco Capoluongo of the International Federation of the Red Cross in Myanmar told the BBC that more than 18 million people living within the affected area of ​​the earthquake, they hope that the toll of death will increase.

“Search and rescue still continue,” he said. “It is very difficult to validate any figure now, and we know that it will continue to grow and many of these 18 million people are now without safe shelter, access to clean water, reliable health care.”

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in the throat of a long and bloody civil war, already responsible for a large -scale humanitarian crisis. It agitates both difficult and dangerous across the country, complicates relief efforts and increases fear that death toll can still grow rapidly.

On Saturday night, the National Unity Sarkar of Myanmar, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling army, declared a unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts. It said in a statement that its armed wing, People’s Defense Force (PDF) will implement two weeks of stagnation in aggressive military operations starting on Sunday in earthquake-affected areas.

This said that it would “collaborate with the United Nations and Non-Governmental Organizations to ensure safety, transport and temporary rescue and medical camps in its controlled areas.”

The earthquake hit a sub -center on Friday with a sub -center away from the troupe, followed by several afterchox, which measures a strong 6.4 magnitude. It dropped the buildings on the ground in many areas, parked on the streets, causing the bridges to collapse and exploded a dam.

In the capital Naypyidaw, the crew worked to repair damaged roads on Saturday, while the power, phone and internet services for most of the city were low. The earthquake brought down several buildings, including several units, which kept government civil servants, but the part of the city was blocked by officials on Saturday.

The government said that more than 1,590 houses were damaged in the Earthquake’s subclass Mandala area.

Destruction in Thailand

In neighboring Thailand, the earthquake shook at home for more and more Bangkok region, some 17 million people in the country and other parts.

Bangkok city officials said that six people have been found dead so far, 26 injured and 47 are still missing, who are most missing from a construction site near the popular quadruped market in the capital.

On Saturday, more heavy equipment was brought to move the debris ton, but Hope was disappearing between the missing friends and family members that they would find alive.

“I was praying that they survived, but when I reached here and wasted-in which corner? Are they still alive? I am still praying that all six are alive,” 45-year-old Narumol Thonglake said, because she was waiting for the news about her partner, which works from Myanmar, and five friends work on the site.

“I can’t accept it. When I see it I cannot accept it. A close friend of mine is also there,” he said.

Venfet Panta said that he had not heard from his daughter Kanalaini about an hour before a phone call from Kanlaini. A friend told that Kanalaini was doing high work on the building on Friday.

“I am praying that my daughter is safe, that she has survived and she is in the hospital,” she said, Kanalaini’s father is sitting near her.

Thai officials said earthquakes and afterchoxes were felt in most of the provinces of the country. Many places in the north reported damage to residential buildings, hospitals and temples, including Chiang Mai, but only casualties were done in Bangkok.

International aid as rescuers ask for help

After more than 24 hours of desperate discovery, many tired rescue workers are asking for some relief.
The rescue worker told AFP, “We are here since last night. We have not found any sleep. There is a need for more help here.” “We have enough manpower, but we do not have enough cars. We are transporting dead bodies using light trucks. About 10-20 bodies in a light truck.”

In a country where the former governments are sometimes slow to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hling said that Myanmar was ready to accept the help outside.

China and Russia were among the first people to step up with humanitarian aids, the largest weapons supplier for Myanmar’s army.

China said it has sent over 135 rescue personnel and experts with supply like medical kits and generators and promised some $ 13.8 million in emergency humanitarian aid. The Emergency Ministry of Russia said that it was washed away by 120 rescue teams and supply.

India also sent a discovery and rescue team and a medical team, while Malaysia said it would send 50 people on Sunday.

South Korea said it would provide humanitarian aid of $ 2 million value through international organizations, and the United Nations allocated $ 5 million to start relief efforts.

Hong Kong sent a group of 51 search-and-rescue personnel to help in earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar. The group includes firefighters and ambulance personnel as well as two search-and-rescue dogs.

President Trump said on Friday that the US was going to help with reaction.

Mr. Trump told reporters at the oval office that he had already spoken to the officials of the country and “this is a real bad, and we will help.”

However, some experts were concerned about the effort that their administration’s foreign aid in a deep cut.

Natural disaster on top of civil war

Myanmar’s army confiscated power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and is now involved in a bloody civil war with long established militia and newly formed democracy.

Military forces continued their attacks even after the earthquake, with three air attacks in the northern Kayin state, also called Karni State, and Southern Shaan – both border Divisional State said, Dave Yubank, a former American special forces soldiers, who established free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian support organization, which provided assistance to both combatists and civilians in the minor.

The Ubank told the Associated Press that most of the villages were already destroyed by the army in the area where he was working, so the earthquake had very little impact.

“People are in the forest and I was out in the forest when the earthquake occurred – it was powerful, but the tree was just gone, so it was for us, so we did not have a direct impact that the Burma army keeps attacking, even after the earthquake,” he said.

In northern glory, a few minutes after the earthquake, seven militia members were killed and damaged five buildings in an air attack on a rebel-uncovered village, including the editor of a school, my stay, a glory-based online media, Shwe Fai Myy News Agency, stating the AP.

Government forces have lost a lot of control of Myanmar, and are incredibly dangerous or simply impossible to reach support groups in many places. According to the United Nations, more than 3 million people have been displaced by fighting and required about 20 million.

“Although a complete picture of the loss is still emerging, most of us have never seen such destruction,” said Hyder Yaqub, the country’s director of Myanmar, NGO Plan International.

“Without a doubt, human needs will be important.”