Myanmar earthquake death toll surpasses 3000, junta declares ceasefire
The death toll from the devastating earthquake that hit central Myanmar on March 28 has risen to 3,085, according to AFP, which cited an announcement from the country’s military-led government on Thursday.
In Myanmar, the ruling junta declared a temporary ceasefire on Wednesday to enable relief efforts, as reported by the Associated Press. This truce is set to remain in effect until April 22.
As the nation grapples with the disaster's aftermath, authorities reported that 4,715 people were injured while 341 individuals remain unaccounted for six days after the calamity.
The initial quake, a powerful 7.5-magnitude tremor, struck Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, at 11:50 am local time on March 28. Merely 12 minutes later, a second tremor, measuring 7.0 in magnitude, rocked the region. India’s National Center for Seismology confirmed these measurements, while the United States Geological Survey reported slightly different figures, stating that the first quake was of 7.7 magnitude and the aftershock measured 6.6.
Both tremors were categorized as shallow, occurring at a depth of 10 km, a characteristic that typically amplifies their destructive impact.
The seismic event sent shockwaves across borders, affecting neighboring Thailand. Bangkok, the country’s capital, suffered casualties as well, with at least 19 deaths recorded. Additionally, approximately 70 people remain trapped beneath the rubble of an under-construction building that collapsed due to the tremors.
Myanmar has been entrenched in civil conflict since February 2021, following the military coup that ousted the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Following the earthquake, armed resistance groups had also declared temporary ceasefires, albeit with exceptions for defensive actions, in order to facilitate rescue missions. Despite this, the military junta continued to carry out airstrikes in various parts of the country, as reported by the BBC.
Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, condemned the continued attacks, describing them as “completely outrageous and unacceptable.” He urged global stakeholders to exert pressure on Myanmar’s military leadership, stating, “Anyone who has influence on the military needs to step up the pressure and make it very clear that this is not acceptable.” Andrews further implored the junta to “just stop, stop any of its military operations.”
