Myanmar Earthquake: Rescuers Dig Through Rubble As Death Toll Crosses 1,000; India Sends Aid

The death toll from a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar jumped to more than 1,000 on Saturday as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the scores of buildings that collapsed when it struck near the country's second-largest city.

The country's military-led government said in a statement that 1,002 people have now been found dead and another 2,376 injured, with 30 others missing.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

The statement suggested the numbers could still rise, saying "detailed figures are still being collected."

The quake's force was so immense that it reverberated 900 kilometres away in Bangkok, toppling several notable buildings and bridges.

Powerful tremors also rattled parts of India, such as Meghalaya and Manipur, as well as Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram, and reached into China.

Key developments

After Prime Minister Modi pledged India's support, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar announced today that India has dispatched 15 tonnes of relief supplies-including solar lamps, food parcels, and kitchen kits-to Myanmar aboard an IAF C-130J aircraft.

In the wake of the earthquake, Thailand's government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok. At least 10 fatalities have been recorded, and 100 construction workers remain unaccounted for after an incomplete skyscraper collapsed in the capital on Friday.

Despite President Donald Trump's recent cuts to USAID funding, he has promised aid to earthquake-stricken Myanmar. The budget reductions have hampered global humanitarian efforts, with USAID traditionally playing a vital role in disaster response.

On Friday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that the earthquake could result in "high casualties and widespread destruction," estimating that the death toll might exceed 10,000.

Myanmar, a nation scarred by decades of civil conflict, is now grappling with severe shortages of power and water following the quake. In an unusual appeal to the international community, Myanmar's junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has called for help.

"I would like to invite any country, any organisation, or anyone in Myanmar to come and help. Thank you," he stated, stressing that he has opened all channels for foreign assistance.

China and Russia have already deployed aid and rescue teams to Myanmar.

(With PTI inputs)