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

The number of deaths of the Powerful magnitude earthquake of 7.7 in Myanmar And Thailand jumped to more than 1,600 Saturday and is expected to rise as more search efforts are being made.

The country’s military government said in a statement on Saturday that 1,644 people have been found dead, while the number of injuries jumped to 3,408 with at least 139 missing, reported the CBS News partner. At least 10 people died in neighboring Bangkok.

Francesco Capoluongo, of the International Federation of the Red Cross of Myanmar, told the BBC that with more than 18 million people living within the area affected by the earthquake, they hope that the number of deaths will continue to increase.

“Research and rescue are still ongoing,” he said. “It is now very difficult to validate any figure and we know that it will continue to increase and (this) many of these 18 million people are now without a safe refuge, access to clean water, reliable health care.”

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in a prolonged and bloody civil war, which is already responsible for a massive humanitarian crisis. It makes the movement throughout the country difficult and dangerous, complicating the efforts of relief and raising fears that the number of deaths could still increase in a hasty manner.

On Saturday night, the Myanmar National Unit Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the governing military, announced a unilateral partial altidis to facilitate the efforts of relief from the earthquake. He said in a statement that his armed wing, the defense force of the people (PDF) would implement a two -week pause in offensive military operations from Sunday in the areas affected by the earthquake.

He said he would “collaborate with the United Nations and Non -Governmentary Organizations to ensure the safety, transport and creation of rescue fields and temporary means” in its controlled areas.

The earthquake reached noon on Friday with an epicenter not far from Mandalay, followed by several answers, including -a measurement of 6.4 forts. He sent buildings to many areas that were placed on the ground, made roads, caused the bridges to collapse and explode a dam.

In the capital Naypyidaw, the crews worked on Saturday to repair damaged roads, while electricity, telephone and internet services remained in most of the city. The earthquake dropped many buildings, including several units that housed government officials, but on Saturday it was blocked by authorities.

The government said that more than 1,590 houses were damaged in the region of Mandalay, the epicenter of the earthquake.

Destruction in Thailand

In the neighbor of Thailand, the number of deaths increased to 10. The earthquake swing the Bangkok area, around 17 million people and other parts of the country. Many northern places reported damage, but the only victims were reported in Bangkok, the capital.

Nine of the fatalities were at the scene of the great height collapsed in construction near the Bangkok Chatuchak market, while 78 people were not yet counted.

On Saturday, he joined more heavy equipment to move tons of debris, but hope faded between friends and family members of the missing people who would be alive.

“ I was praying because they had survived, but when I arrived here and I saw the ruin, where could they be? In what corner are they still alive? I’m still praying for all the six to be alive, ” said Naruemol Thonglek, 45, while waiting for news about his partner, who is from Myanmar and five friends who worked at the place.

“I can’t accept this. When I see it, I can’t accept this. There’s a friend of mine too,” he said.

Waenphet Panta said he had not heard of his daughter Kanlayanee from a phone call about an hour before the earthquake. A friend told him that Kanlayanee had worked on Friday in the building.

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

Thai authorities said that the earthquake and the answers were heard in most provinces in the country. Many northern places reported damage to residential buildings, hospitals and temples, including Chiang Mai, but Bangkok was reported to Bangkok’s only victims in Bangkok

International help comes when lifeguards ask for help

After more than 24 hours of desperate search, many rescue workers are emerging.
“We have been here since last night. We have not slept. Here is more help,” said the rescue worker on the AFP. “We have enough labor, but we do not have enough cars. We are transporting dead bodies with light trucks. About 10 to 20 bodies in a light truck.”

In a country where previous governments have sometimes been slowly to accept foreign help, Min Aung Hlaing said that Myanmar was ready to accept foreign assistance.

China and Russia, the largest suppliers of weapons for Myanmar military, were the first to participate with humanitarian aid.

China said it has sent more than 135 rescue staff and experts along with supplies such as medical kits and generators and have committed to $ 13.8 million in emergency humanitarian aid. The Russian Ministry of Emergency said he had flown in 120 lifeguards and supplies.

India also sent a research 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 worth $ 2 million through international organizations and that the UN assigned $ 5 million to start relief efforts.

Hong Kong sent a group of 51 search and rescue staff to help make the efforts of relief from the earthquake in Myanmar. The group includes firefighters and ambulance staff, as well as two search and rescue dogs, among others.

President Trump said on Friday that the United States would help with the answer.

Trump told journalists at the Oval Office that he had already talked to the country’s officials and “he is a real bad and we will help.”

However, some experts were concerned about this effort given the deep cuts of their administration in foreign assistance.

Natural disaster in the Civil War

Myanmar’s military took the power of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and is now involved in a bloody civil war with long-term and recent format militias.

The military forces continued their attacks even after the earthquake, with three aerial attacks in the north of the state of Kayin, also called the Karenni State, and South Shan, both of the Mandalay border state, said Dave Eubank, a former Soldier of the Special forces of the United States who founded the Birma Burma Rangers, a humanitarian aid organization that has provided both humanitarian assistance that has provided assistance to support. As civilians in Myanmar since the 1990’s.

Eubank told The Associated Press that in the area it operated, most of the villages had already been destroyed by the military, so the earthquake had little impact.

“People are in the jungle and I was in the jungle when it hit the earthquake, it was powerful, but the trees moved, this was for us, so we have not had a direct impact that it is not that the Burma army continues to attack, even after the earthquake,” he said.

In northern Shan, an aerial attack on rebels a few minutes after the earthquake killed seven members of the militia and damaged five buildings, including a school, Mai Rukow, a publisher of an online news agency based on Shan, Shwee Myyay, at the AP.

Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places are incredibly dangerous or simply impossible for help groups. According to the United Nations, more than 3 million people have been displaced by fighting and almost 20 million need it.

“Although a complete image of damage is still emerging, most of us have never seen this destruction,” said Haider Yaqub, director of Myanmar’s country for the Yangon International Plan NGO.

“Without a doubt, humanitarian needs will be significant.”