Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 2,719

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar has climbed to 2,719, with at least 4,521 people injured, authorities said on Tuesday.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with 441 individuals still reported missing, reports Reuters.

Aid organizations warn that survivors face severe shortages of food, water, and shelter, as the ongoing civil conflict hampers relief efforts. Myanmar’s military ruler, Min Aung Hlaing, said in a televised address that fatalities could exceed 3,000.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck at 12:20 p.m. local time on Friday (March 28), with its epicenter located approximately 100 kilometers northwest of the capital, Naypyidaw, near the city of Sagaing. A second 6.4-magnitude tremor followed just 12 minutes later, along with multiple aftershocks.

The quake was felt across the region, including in neighboring Bangladesh, China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Significant infrastructure damage has been reported, with the collapse of Myanmar’s historic Sagaing Bridge and buildings in Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Pyinmana, Aung San, and Inle regions. The Dothetawadi Bridge along the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway also failed, with sections of the highway sustaining damage and disrupting transport.