Death Toll Blamed on Friday's Earthquake in Myanmar Eclipses 2,000

Over 2,000 people have been confirmed dead after Friday's earthquake in Southeast Asia. The window to rescue those trapped under the rubble is closing quickly as crews continue to sift through the ruins.

Latest on Myanmar Earthquake

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar Friday afternoon is now being blamed for at least 2,056 deaths as of Monday's reporting. The major quake sent buildings as far as Thailand falling to the ground with the tremors also felt in China.

Search and rescue crews are working against time to try to reach potential people still alive under the rubble. The chances of survival without water are also starting to plummet. The earthquake was the largest to hit Myanmar in over a century, speaking to the rarity of this natural disaster.

In addition to the confirmed fatalities, there are over 3,900 people injured and about 300 more still reported as missing. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the final death toll could eclipse the 10,000-person mark.

Complicating the search for survivors is the country's already poor infrastructure and damaged communication networks. The war-ravaged nation has been under a civil conflict since 2021, leaving millions of residents without adequate shelter even before the natural disaster. The damage triggered by the earthquake has weakened what was already deteriorating roads and buildings.

Local officials believe that there are still dozens of people still trapped under the crumbled buildings. The poor communication network in Myanmar is also making it more difficult to assess the true scope of the devastation.

The epicenter of the event was recorded in the central Sagaing part of Myanmar, a place that about 1.5 million call home. A key bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River collapsed as a result of the damage, cutting off thousands of people.

Myanmar was not the only part of the region to see fatalities from the earthquake. A high-rise building under construction in Bangkok, Thailand, also fell from the intense shaking. At least 11 deaths were the direct result of this building collapse with dozens more still feared trapped. Families of the missing are gathering around the collapse site waiting for news of survivors. There were seven additional fatalities reported in other areas of the capital city.

Aftershocks from the primary earthquake continued to shake the region over the weekend, adding to the mental stress. The largest aftershock clocked in at a 6.7 magnitude.

The Myanmar townships of Nyaungshwe, Kalaw, and Pinlaung were the hardest-hit areas in the southern part of the country. The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that thousands of residents were forced to spend the night in the streets or in open areas due to the damage.

The military capital city of Naypyidaw also suffered extensive damage. Located about 160 miles south of the major city of Mandalay, this area experienced the collapse of a three-story hospital that trapped patients under the crumbling structure.

OCHA said that there were almost 1,700 houses, 60 schools, 670 monasteries, and three bridges damaged as of the Sunday report. OCHA also said that officials were growing worried about the integrity of several large dams.

There have been at least 36 survivors pulled from collapsed buildings in the Sagaing region. The dead that are still trapped under the debris are now starting to decompose, spreading a stench of decaying bodies throughout the region.

Foreign Aid Arriving in the Battered Region

Foreign aid began pouring into the country nearly immediately. The governing military party issued a plea for help in the hours after the disaster. The U.S. State Department confirmed that it is sending a team to Myanmar after a request from the local government. The U.S. team was expected to arrive by Monday evening. The military leaders that rule Myanmar typically shy away from any type of international involvement in their affairs, making the outward request for help more notable.

The proximity of China to Myanmar meant that they were the first relief team to arrive on the scene. The Chinese were on the ground in the city of Yangon by Saturday, pledging $13.8 million in financial aid.

Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom have kicked in another $20 million in humanitarian aid. Other nations that have expressed a desire to help include India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Maylasia.

Aid teams are facing a series of challenges when navigating the scene in Myanmar. In addition to the damaged infrastructure and communication blackouts, OCHA also said that there are severe shortages of blood bags, trauma kits, and other types of vital medical supplies.

Explaining the Severity of This Earthquake

Although Myanmar is located in an active earthquake zone, the bulk of the quakes occur in areas that are not heavily populated. The fact that Friday's temblor hit across a major city is why the damage has been extensive and why the death toll continues to mount. Most of the structures in this area are constructed using just timber or unreinforced brick masonry, putting them more at risk of damage even with less severe earthquakes.

The USGS said that this particular earthquake was also only 6.2 miles deep. The shallow depth means that it was inherently more likely to cause serious damage. Geology experts are warning that the aftershocks may be felt for months due to the intense energy released by the initial quake.

The Friday earthquake happened along the Sagaing fault, running from north to south through Myanmar. This fault is known as a strike-slip line, a term used to describe when two tectonic plates move mostly in a horizontal direction.

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