Myanmar earthquake death toll jumps to 694 700, international aid arrives

The Myanmar military government said the death toll in Myanmar has climbed from 144 to 694 with 1,670 injured.

This is as international aid began to arrive in Myanmar on Saturday as rescuers searched for survivors after incident devastated the Southeast Asian nation amid concerns that the number killed would soar.

The junta, in a statement issued on state media, said infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings were affected, leading to casualties and injuries among civilians, adding that search and rescue operations are currently being carried out in the affected areas.

DAILY POST reports that the junta leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, had warned on Friday of more deaths and injuries as he sought for help and donations.

It was gathered that a Chinese rescue team arrived on Saturday while Russia and the US offered aid in the disaster, which struck at lunchtime on Friday and damaged hundreds of buildings in neighbouring Thailand.

The United States Geological Service's predictive modelling estimated that the death toll could exceed 10,000 people in Myanmar, stating that losses could be greater than the value of the country's gross domestic product.

Much of the devastation was said to be in Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay, close to the epicentre of the quake.

In the Thai capital Bangkok, 1,000 km from the epicentre a rescue mission was stepped up on Saturday to find construction workers trapped under the rubble of a collapsed 33-storey tower.

The Chinese embassy said in a Facebook post that a 37-strong team from China landed in Yangon, Myanmar's former capital, early on Saturday, carrying medicine and equipment to detect signs of life with them.

Russia said it was sending 120 experienced rescuers as well as doctors and search dogs.

Similarly, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had spoken with officials in Myanmar, stressing that his administration would be providing some form of assistance.

Thai authorities said nine people had died and 101 were missing in Bangkok, mostly labourers trapped in the rubble of the collapsed tower.

“We will do everything, we will not give up on saving lives, we will use all resources,” Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said at the site on Saturday, as excavators moved debris and drones scoured the rubble searching for survivors.