Myanmar has entered a week of national mourning after a catastrophic earthquake struck on March 28, with the death toll now rising to 2,056. More than 3,900 people have been injured, while 270 remain missing. The disaster has also claimed at least 19 lives in neighboring Thailand.

At 12:51:02 local time (0621 GMT) on Tuesday, the exact moment the earthquake struck, the entire country will pause in a solemn tribute to those lost. The ruling junta has urged citizens to observe silence, with media broadcasts set to halt and display mourning symbols. Prayers will also be held at temples and pagodas nationwide.

Flags will continue to fly at half-mast on official buildings until April 6 as a mark of respect for the victims. However, the true scale of the devastation is still emerging, with fears that the toll could rise significantly as rescuers reach cut-off towns and villages.

Mandalay Devastated, Thousands Sleeping in the Open

Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with a population of over 1.7 million, has suffered some of the most severe destruction. Entire residential buildings have crumbled into rubble, forcing hundreds of residents to sleep outdoors for a fourth consecutive night—either due to the destruction of their homes or fear of aftershocks.

"I don’t feel safe. There are six- or seven-floor buildings beside my house leaning, and they can collapse anytime," said Soe Tint, a watchmaker who has been sleeping outside.

Many survivors are huddling under makeshift tents, while others—including young children and babies—sleep on blankets laid out on roads, avoiding unstable structures. The city’s general hospital has moved its 1,000 patients into a car park, where they lie on gurneys under a thin tarpaulin to shield them from the scorching 40-degree Celsius heat.

Crematoriums are struggling to keep up with the rising number of bodies, with the stench of decay becoming unbearable in disaster-hit areas.

International Aid Efforts Mobilized

Myanmar was already facing a humanitarian crisis before the quake, with over 3.5 million people displaced by civil war following the military coup in 2021. The UN has urged all parties to cease hostilities and focus on protecting civilians and delivering aid.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has made a rare appeal for international assistance, breaking from the military’s usual reluctance to accept foreign aid. In response, China, Russia, and India have dispatched rescue teams, while the U.S. has also sent humanitarian experts. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an emergency appeal for $100 million to aid victims.

Thailand Also Reeling from Destruction

The earthquake’s impact extended beyond Myanmar, causing a 30-story skyscraper in Bangkok to collapse, leaving dozens trapped beneath the rubble. As of Monday, 19 deaths had been confirmed in Thailand, but authorities fear the toll could rise sharply.

Meanwhile, rescue teams in Myanmar continue their desperate search for survivors amid growing concerns over extreme heat, hunger, and limited medical supplies.

BOB Post