Rain Forecast Adds To Problems Faced By Victims Of Myanmar Quake

Bangkok:

Residents in the earthquake-affected regions of Myanmar prepared for thunderstorms on Sunday night, following heavy rains and strong winds that disrupted rescue and relief efforts. The inclement weather added to the challenges faced by those who lost their homes in the disaster and were forced to seek shelter outdoors.

Myanmar’s state television channel, MRTV, reported on Sunday evening that scattered showers and thunderstorms were expected across the country in the coming week.

“The public is advised to remain vigilant as there is a possibility of sudden rain accompanied by strong winds, lightning, hail, and landslides,” MRTV cautioned. Daytime temperatures are predicted to reach 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) by mid-week.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7 that struck on March 28, had its epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. It caused extensive damage across six regions and states, including the capital city of Naypyitaw.

Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the military government, stated on Sunday in an audio message to journalists that the death toll had reached 3,564, with 5,012 individuals injured and 210 reported missing.

The earthquake resulted in power outages, disrupted communication networks, and damaged transportation infrastructure, making damage assessments challenging.

An official from the Myanmar Rescue Federation (Mandalay) revealed to The Associated Press on Sunday that search and rescue operations had to be temporarily halted due to the rain on Saturday and Sunday. Despite the adverse weather conditions, efforts to locate survivors continued.

Another rescuer in Mandalay, speaking anonymously, mentioned that the rainfall and strong winds led to further building collapses, exacerbating the already dire situation for those seeking refuge.

The Irrawaddy, an online news outlet based in Myanmar, reported that approximately 80 bodies were discovered in the debris of the Great Wall Hotel in Mandalay after the removal of rubble on Sunday afternoon. The report’s authenticity could not be immediately confirmed.

The Myanmar Fire Services Department announced on Sunday that five bodies had been recovered from collapsed structures in Mandalay.

Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has been under military rule, with the army cracking down on dissent and engaging in a civil war against pro-democracy groups and ethnic militias.

The earthquake left numerous areas without essential services and infrastructure, making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage.

According to Myanmar’s military government, the earthquake damaged 5,223 buildings, 1,824 schools, 2,752 Buddhist monastic residences, 4,817 pagodas and temples, 167 medical facilities, 169 bridges, 198 dams, and 184 sections of the country’s main highway.

(This article has been published from a syndicated feed and has not been altered by NDTV staff, except for the headline.)