More than 3,000 people have died following Myanmar’s devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, with thousands more injured and missing.
Authorities confirmed the death toll had risen to 3,085, with 4,715 people injured and 341 still unaccounted for. Entire villages have been reduced to rubble, and emergency crews are struggling to reach remote areas.
The earthquake struck on March 28, primarily impacting Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw, regions home to millions. Hospitals and roads were severely damaged, further hampering rescue efforts.
The World Health Organization has warned of a growing risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera and dengue, as survivors endure extreme heat and poor sanitation in makeshift camps. “Cholera remains a particular concern for all of us,” said WHO’s deputy head in Myanmar, Elena Vuolo.
Complicating relief efforts, heavy rains are forecasted from Sunday, raising fears of landslides and worsening conditions for displaced survivors.
Despite political tensions, Myanmar’s military junta and rebel groups have temporarily halted fighting to allow aid distribution. Meanwhile, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has traveled to Thailand for a regional summit, as the country grapples with one of its deadliest disasters in years.
