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The number of fatalities from Friday’s devastating earthquake in Burma and Thailand has significantly increased to over 1,650.
The quake’s epicenter was in central Burma, where the ruling military has confirmed 1,644 deaths and reported nearly 140 people are still missing.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and damaging bridges and highways in what is considered the worst natural disaster to strike the impoverished, war-torn nation in recent years. Burma is also known as Myanmar.
In Mandalay, Burma’s second-largest city, survivors frantically searched for those trapped under rubble on Friday, lacking adequate machinery and with limited official support. On Saturday, Burma’s military government allowed hundreds of international rescue workers into the country.
The earthquake struck during Friday prayers, leading to the collapse of at least 50 mosques nationwide and resulting in nearly 300 deaths, according to reports.
An initial assessment by Burma’s opposition National Unity Government indicated that at least 2,900 buildings, 30 roads, and seven bridges sustained damage from the earthquake.
The earthquake occurred amidst an ongoing civil war, which has severely impacted the economy and displaced millions. This conflict complicates relief efforts and raises concerns that the death toll may rise considerably.
Damage to airports is further impeding rescue operations. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC show that the earthquake caused the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport to collapse, as reported by The Associated Press.
The country is situated on the Sagaing Fault, a major fault line running north-south that marks the boundary between the India and Sunda plates.
The U.S. President described the earthquake as “terrible” on Friday and pledged U.S. assistance for relief efforts.
“It’s a real bad one, and we will be helping. We’ve already spoken with the country,” Trump stated.
In Thailand, where the earthquake caused buildings to shake and a skyscraper under construction to collapse in Bangkok, at least ten people died.
Dramatic footage from Bangkok on Friday showed a 33-story apartment building under construction collapsing, spreading dust and debris throughout the city. Bangkok authorities reported earlier on Friday that 10 people had died and 16 were injured.
Water overflowed from rooftop pools of a separate high-rise building in Bangkok as the building shook, and debris fell from numerous structures.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that the country has “returned to normalcy.”
Aftershocks were reportedly felt in India and China.
Photos and videos from Burma depicted extensive damage in two severely affected cities.
In Mandalay, Burma’s second-largest city and close to the epicenter, the earthquake damaged parts of the former royal palace and other buildings, as shown in videos and photos shared on Facebook.
In the Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and sections of the highway connecting Mandalay and Yangon were also damaged.
In the capital, Naypyitaw, religious shrines and some homes were damaged.
Christina Shaw, Greg Norman, Bradford Betz Reuters and