Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 3,145 as more bodies found

Nearly a week after a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar, the official death toll has climbed to 3,145, the country’s military-led government reported Thursday. Search and rescue teams continue to uncover more victims, while humanitarian organizations race to deliver vital medical care and shelter to the survivors.

At a government briefing in Naypyitaw, Information Minister Maung Maung Ohn said that 4,589 people have been injured and 221 remain missing, according to a report by state-run broadcaster MRTV.

The earthquake, measured at magnitude 7.7, struck on March 28 with its epicenter located near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. The seismic event caused widespread destruction—collapsi ng thousands of buildings, cracking roads, and destroying bridges across multiple regions.

Although the official numbers are already grim, independent reports from local media suggest the actual casualty count could be much higher. With communication networks severely disrupted and many remote areas still inaccessible, officials fear the true scale of the disaster has yet to emerge.

UN Warns of Massive Humanitarian Impact
According to a Thursday report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the quake and its aftershocks have affected over 17 million people across 57 townships—more than 9 million of them severely impacted.

“The coming days will be critical in determining the full scale of the disaster’s impact and the response required to meet the needs of millions affected,” the U.N. stated.

In response to the worsening crisis, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres announced that U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher and special envoy Julie Bishop will arrive in Myanmar on Friday. Guterres made an urgent appeal for increased international aid and unhindered humanitarian access to reach those in need.

“The earthquake has supercharged the suffering, with the monsoon season just around the corner,” Guterres warned.

Healthcare System in Crisis
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that four hospitals and one health center have been completely destroyed, while an additional 32 hospitals and 18 health centers sustained partial damage.

With infrastructure crumbling and a surge in patient numbers, access to essential healthcare has become nearly impossible in the worst-hit regions. The U.N. warns that thousands are in urgent need of trauma care, surgery, and treatment for potential disease outbreaks.

To support local efforts, India has deployed a mobile hospital, and a joint Russian-Belarusian medical unit is now operating in Mandalay.

Relief and Recovery Underway
With many homes destroyed or unsafe due to aftershocks, large numbers of people are sleeping outdoors. In Naypyitaw, workers have been erecting large tents in open areas under scorching temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F) to provide temporary shelter.

In Mandalay, scenes of compassion were visible as locals handed out watermelon slices to exhausted Chinese volunteers working under the punishing sun.

According to a statement from the military, more than 1,550 international rescuers are now on the ground, operating alongside local teams. Seventeen countries have sent relief supplies and rescue equipment to aid the recovery efforts.

Earthquake Damage Spills Across Borders
The quake’s impact wasn’t limited to Myanmar. In Bangkok, Thailand, the tremor toppled a high-rise under construction, killing 22 people and injuring 35 others. As of Thursday, search crews continued scouring the rubble after sensors detected a possible sound from beneath the debris—but no survivors had been found by day's end.