The death toll from a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday has risen to over 1,000, as rescue teams continue to recover bodies from the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Myanmar’s military-led government reported on Saturday that 1,002 people had died, with another 2,376 injured and 30 still missing. Officials warned that the toll could rise further as relief efforts are hampered by the country’s ongoing civil war, which has already created a severe humanitarian crisis.
The earthquake, which hit near Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, caused widespread destruction, collapsing buildings, buckling roads, and even breaching a dam. The disaster was followed by several aftershocks, including a strong 6.4-magnitude tremor. In the capital, Naypyidaw, authorities worked to repair damaged roads while power, phone, and internet services remained down.
In neighboring Thailand, the quake shook the greater Bangkok area, home to 17 million people, causing a 33-story building under construction to collapse near the Chatuchak market. Bangkok city officials reported six deaths, 26 injuries, and 47 people still missing, many of them construction workers.
Rescue teams in both countries are racing against time to find survivors, but the scale of destruction, along with Myanmar’s political turmoil, has made relief efforts challenging. Authorities fear the final death toll could be significantly higher as search operations continue.
