Myanmar Earthquake: Death toll from earthquake crosses 3000, about 5 thousand people injured; hundreds missing:

The death toll in the earthquake that struck Myanmar nearly a week ago rose to 3,085 on Thursday. The quake had a magnitude of 7.7 and was epicentred near Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city. The government said 4,715 people were injured and 341 were still missing.

Earthquake effects and hazards

The earthquake collapsed thousands of buildings, destroying roads and bridges. According to local media reports, the actual death toll may be much higher than the official figures. Telephone services have been disrupted and many areas are difficult to reach, due to which the death toll may rise further.

Health crisis and relief efforts

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that four hospitals and one health center have been completely destroyed. 32 hospitals and 18 health centers have been partially damaged. A mobile hospital from India and a joint hospital from Russia-Belarus have been deployed in Mandalay to deal with the crisis.

Human rights and armed conflict

Myanmar's military has been in a state of civil war since it overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021. The earthquake has worsened the humanitarian situation in an already troubled country, where more than three million people have been displaced from their homes. Despite this, the military has declared a temporary ceasefire until April 22 to ensure humanitarian aid is not disrupted during the conflict.

Earthquake also felt in Thailand

The earthquake also affected Bangkok, Thailand, where a building under construction collapsed. 22 deaths and 35 injuries have been reported from there. Rescue teams are searching for people buried under the rubble, but no survivors have been found so far.