Myanmar earthquake death toll crosses 2,700

In Myanmar, death toll in last week’s devastating earthquake has crossed 2,700. Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised address yesterday that the toll has reached 2,719 and is expected to rise to more than three thousand. He said 4,521 people have been injured, and 441 are missing.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are underway in the country in full swing. India has launched Operation Brahma to provide necessary support, including Search and Rescue, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and medical assistance. The Ministry of External Affairs has said that the Army Field hospital established by an Indian medical contingent has so far treated around 104 patients including two major surgeries. The Ministry also added that one Indian Air Force aircraft, carrying 16 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief material, reached Mandalay Airport yesterday. 

The humanitarian aid was handed over to Lieutenant General Myo Moe Aung and Dignitaries of the Myanmar government. This was the first aircraft to land at Mandalay for HADR aid. The Ministry said the NDRF teams are working and have recovered



five more bodies. The total count stands at 16 so far. The NDRF is also conducting Search and Rescue operations at Ganga Ghat Mandir.

A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock minutes later, struck the country’s Mandalay region on Friday, causing massive casualties and damage. Strong tremors were also felt in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and southwest China.

So far, India has delivered 625 Metric tons of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) material under Operation Brahma, through six aircraft and five Indian Naval ships.

Another Indian Naval Ship, Gharial, departed for Yangon from Visakhapatnam Port yesterday, carrying 442 MT of food aid.  including 405 metric tons of rice, 30 metric tons of cooking oil, 5 metric tons of biscuits, and 2 metric tons of instant noodles. These supplies are intended to meet the immediate food needs of the affected population in Myanmar.  

The MEA said that India stands ready to deploy more material assistance and resources to Myanmar depending on ground-level needs and requirements.