International aid started arriving in Myanmar on Saturday, as rescue teams searched for survivors following a devastating earthquake in the Southeast Asian country, raising fears of an increasing death toll.
The number of fatalities in Myanmar surged to 694, with 1,670 injured, according to the military government, a significant increase from the 144 deaths reported by state media the previous day.
“Infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings, was affected, leading to casualties and injuries among civilians. Search and rescue operations are currently being carried out in the affected areas,” the junta said in a statement.
On Friday, the head of the junta, Gen Min Aung Hlaing, cautioned about the potential increase in deaths and injuries and called for international aid and donations.
Teams from China arrived on Saturday, and both Russia and the United States have extended offers of assistance following the earthquake, which occurred around midday on Friday and also caused extensive damage in neighboring Thailand.
Predictive models from the US Geological Service (USGS) suggest that the death toll in Myanmar could top 10,000, potentially exceeding the nation’s gross domestic product in losses.
Susan Hough, a USGS scientist, expressed to Reuters the challenges in forecasting the death toll from earthquakes, citing factors such as timing.
Hough noted that earthquakes occurring during daylight hours, like the recent one in Myanmar, mean people are more alert and better prepared to react.
The earthquake’s wreckage was concentrated around Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, near the quake’s epicenter.
In Bangkok, which is 1,000 kilometers away from the epicenter, a heightened rescue operation began on Saturday to locate construction workers trapped beneath a collapsed 33-story building.
Early on Saturday, a team of 37 from China arrived in Yangon, Myanmar’s old capital, equipped with medical supplies and life-detection equipment, as announced by the Chinese embassy via a Facebook post.
Russia announced the deployment of 120 seasoned rescuers, along with medical personnel and search dogs, as per TASS, the state news agency.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump communicated with officials in Myanmar, pledging some form of support from his administration.
Hough, who has experience working in Myanmar’s seismology network, mentioned that the country’s mix of modern and traditional buildings would affect the outcomes, with traditional structures likely being less hazardous than concrete ones.
Thai officials reported at least nine deaths and 101 people missing in Bangkok, mostly workers caught in the debris of the fallen tower.
“We will do everything, we will not give up on saving lives, we will use all resources,” stated Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt at the scene on Saturday, where excavators and drones were employed to sift through the rubble for survivors.
Traffic in the Thai capital was disrupted on Friday, and according to Mr. Chadchart, many spent the night in city parks, though he noted improvements in the situation.
