Myanmar earthquake news highlights: Death toll rises to 1,644, widespread damage

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: The European Union in a statement promised to provide 2.5 million euros in initial emergency aid to help Myanmar recover from the deadly earthquake that hit the country on Friday.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Hong Kong dispatched a 51-person team to Myanmar on Saturday, reported AFP, along with two search and rescue dogs as well as nine tonnes of equipment, including life detectors.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: China sent an 82-person team of rescuers to Myanmar on Saturday, Beijing's emergency management ministry said, as per AFP.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: A total of five Indian aircrafts, including 2 C-17 planes, have landed in Myanmar, to help with rescue efforts.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X, "Operation Brahma continues. Two C-17 aircraft with 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital Unit, including Women & Child Care services and 60 tonnes of relief material, have landed in Myanmar. With these, five relief flights from India have landed in Myanmar today."

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Myanmar's main resistance movement has announced a partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Thai teams are using robotic mules to assist in rescue efforts after an under-construction building collapsed after an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Sagaing, Myanmar on March 28, reported ANI.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Intensifying its efforts for aiding relief and rescue work in Myanmar, India on Saturday despatched two naval ships to the neighbouring country while an 118-member army field hospital is being deployed to provide immediate medical medical assistance to the injured, reports PTI.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Humanitarian operations in Myanmar have been hindered by damaged roads and infrastructure, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says, according to Reuters.

"Damage to the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay expressway led to service disruptions, with cracks and surface distortions forcing highway buses to halt operations", the UN agency said in a statement.

A Thai woman gave birth to a baby girl on a rolling bed in a hospital as it was being evacuated, Reuters reported. Kanthong Saenmuangshin, 36, had gone to hospital for a routine check-up but went into labour after the ground started shaking.

Kanthong's waters broke while she was being escorted by medical staff of the Police General Hospital down five flights of stairs, and she was worried she would give birth on the stairway.

According to an AFP report, some residents in earthquake-hit Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay sheltered under the shade of nearby trees, where they had spent the night, a few possessions they had managed to salvage -- blankets, motorbike helmets -- alongside them. Elsewhere, rescuers in flip-flops and minimal protective equipment picked by hand over the remains of buildings, shouting into the rubble in the hope of hearing the answering cry of a survivor.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Earthquakes are rare in Bangkok, but relatively common in Myanmar. The country sits on the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south fault that separates the India plate and the Sunda plate, reports AP.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Rescue efforts are underway in the major stricken cities of Myanmar's Mandalay and Naypyitaw. But even though teams and equipment have been flown in from other nations, they are hindered by the airports in those cities being damaged and apparently unfit to land planes, reports AP.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has expressed his sadness at the loss of lives in the Myanmar earthquake. "I offer my condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones and pray for all those in Myanmar and neighbouring countries such as Thailand who have been affected by this tragedy," he said in a statement, according to PTI.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: The death toll due to earthquake in Myanmar has reached 1,644, AFP reports, citiing the ruling junta. At least 139 people are still missing.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Rescuers pulled a woman alive from the wreckage of a collapsed apartment building in Mandalay, 30 hours after a devastating quake hit Myanmar, reports AFP.

Phyu Lay Khaing, 30, was brought out of the Sky Villa Condominium by rescuers and carried away by stretcher.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: The control tower at Myanmar's Naypyitaw International Airport collapsed in the earthquake, satellite photos analysed by the Associated Press show.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says that soon after the tragedy struck Myanmar, our PM conveyed his concerns and expressed that India was ready to provide all possible support to the people and government of Myanmar.

‘Today, PM spoke to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of people and government of India for the loss of precious lives and that we would do our best to provide relief, rescues and whatever assistance required to deal with this calamity,’ Jaiswal adds.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Myanmar's junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, travelled to hard-hit Mandalay near the epicentre of the quake, which brought down buildings and triggered fires in some areas, reports Reuters.

"The Chairman of the State Administration Council instructed authorities to expedite search and rescue efforts and address any urgent needs," the junta said in a statement on state media.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: French tourist Augustin Gus told AFP that he was shopping in one of Bangkok's many malls when the massive earthquake began shaking buildings in the Thai capital.

"Just when I left the elevator, the earth starts moving. I thought it was me... it was not me," the 23-year-old told AFP. "Everyone was screaming and running, so I started screaming as well."

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Myanmar's military-led government has said in a statement that 1,002 people have been found dead and another 2,376 injured, with 30 others missing.

The statement, however, suggested the numbers could still rise, saying “detailed figures are still being collected”, according to AP.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: EAM S Jaishankar says that an 80-member ‘strong’ NDRF search and rescue team has departed for Myanmar's Nay Pyi Taw. ‘They will assist the rescue operations in Myanmar,’ he says.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Russia's emergencies ministry has said that it has sent 120 rescue workers to help search for victims trapped in the rubble and assist with clean-up in Myanmar, AP reported, citing a statement from the ministry.

The ministry added that two aircraft were on their way from Moscow to the earthquake-stricken country, with anaesthesiologists, psychologists and canine units on board.

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he spoke to Myanmar military leader over the earthquake and informed that relief aid is being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas.

“Spoke with Senior General H.E. Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar. Conveyed our deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour. Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search & rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of #OperationBrahma,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

China has vowed to provide Myanmar 100 million Yuan worth of aid after the devastating earthquake, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar said on Saturday.

The embassy said that the first batch of Chinese aid will arrive in Myanmar on March 31 - embassy

Myanmar, Thailand Earthquake News LIVE: South Korea said it will send $2 million worth of aid through international organisations to support recovery efforts following the recent earthquake.

The Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday that Seoul will closely monitor the situation and consider additional support if needed.

(via AP)