The number of deaths in Myanmar keeps rising. On Sunday, authorities confirmed the toll after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country on Friday. This was one of the strongest quakes Myanmar has seen in the past hundred years.
By Sunday, the military-led government reported around 1,700 people dead, over 3,400 injured, and more than 300 still missing. Officials have warned the toll may continue to climb.
Aid Arrives, But Survivors Still Wait
Several countries have sent help. India, China, and Thailand quickly dispatched aid and rescue teams. Crews from Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia also joined the efforts. 
However, people in Mandalay and Sagaing say they have not received any international assistance. Food is running out. Clean water is hard to find. Many neighborhoods are still without electricity.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies released a statement. They said the damage was severe, and the need for help is growing by the hour.
U.S. Sends Support Amid Domestic Cuts
The United States pledged $2 million in aid. This money will go through local groups operating inside Myanmar. A response team from USAID is also on the way.
This comes at a time when USAID is facing major budget cuts under the Trump administration.
Disaster on Top of Civil War
Myanmar is already struggling. The country has been in chaos since the 2021 military coup that removed Aung San Suu Kyi and her elected government.
Since then, a violent civil war has erupted. Over 3.5 million people have been displaced. Hospitals and clinics are barely functioning.
Now, critical infrastructure is also damaged. Roads, bridges, airports, and railways are either broken or destroyed. Humanitarian teams are finding it difficult to reach those in need.
Media Shut Out as Situation Worsens
The military regime has denied access to international journalists. Officials claim there’s not enough power, clean water, or hotel space to host them.
Still, the world is catching glimpses of the disaster. The U.S. Geological Survey predicted the death toll could exceed 10,000. Economic losses may even be greater than Myanmar’s entire annual GDP.
Hospitals Overflow, Locals Step In
Hospitals in central and northern Myanmar are overwhelmed. Cities like Mandalay and Naypyidaw are seeing a surge in injured people. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed this late Saturday.
Ashin Pawara, a monk in Mandalay, described the situation. Hospital buildings had collapsed. Patients were lying outside, without proper beds. People are sleeping in parks or on sidewalks.
“There’s no international aid here,” he said. “Local volunteers are handing out food, bottled water, and snacks.”
Glimmers of Rescue and More Tragedy in Thailand
There were some moments of hope. A Chinese rescue team pulled a woman alive from the rubble of Mandalay’s Great Wall Hotel. She had been trapped for nearly 60 hours.
But the quake didn’t stop at Myanmar’s border. In Thailand, it brought down a partially built skyscraper in Bangkok, killing 18 people, according to officials.
At least 76 others are still missing in the wreckage. Rescue workers are using drones and dogs to search for survivors. Operations have now entered a third day.
Ceasefire Declared by Opposition Forces
The National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar’s shadow government, made an announcement. Armed groups under its control will stop offensive operations for the next two weeks. This ceasefire, starting Sunday, is meant to allow relief efforts to continue.
Sagaing Faces Total Collapse
In Sagaing, near the quake’s epicenter, the destruction is massive. Local resident Han Zin gave an update by phone. He said buildings had completely collapsed. Power has been out since the quake struck. Water is nearly gone.
“No one has come to help us,” he said. “We haven’t seen any rescue teams here.”
Satellite images showed more bad news. A key bridge linking Sagaing and Mandalay had collapsed into the Irrawaddy River. It was an old, colonial-era structure. Now, parts of it are underwater.
The Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw, a local political body tied to the NUG, posted online. “Even Mandalay can’t get supplies through,” they wrote on Facebook. “There’s no food or medicine here.”
