Myanmar Earthquake: Death Toll Rises Amidst Heavy Rains Hampering Relief Efforts

Heavy rains have struck parts of Myanmar, exacerbating the challenges faced by those affected by the recent earthquake. The downpour is complicating aid efforts and heightening the risk of disease outbreaks among survivors. The death toll from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck on March 28 has risen to at least 3,471, with 4,671 injured and 214 still missing. Aid workers in Mandalay, near the earthquake's epicenter, reported that overnight rains and winds soaked tent camps, leaving survivors and their belongings drenched. Further rainfall is expected, along with rising temperatures, potentially leading to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera among those living outdoors. The earthquake damaged approximately 5,223 buildings, 1,824 schools, 4,817 pagodas and temples, 167 hospitals and clinics, 169 bridges, 198 dams, and 184 sections of the country's main road. The damage is particularly severe in Sagaing and Mandalay. The UN reports that over three million people were already internally displaced and nearly 20 million in need prior to the earthquake. In neighboring Thailand, the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 24, with 17 fatalities occurring at a collapsed skyscraper site in Bangkok. Search operations are ongoing for 77 missing individuals.