The death toll from a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Southeast Asia on Friday surged on Saturday, with reports indicating at least 1,600 fatalities in Myanmar. Predictive models suggest the true toll could reach 10,000.
The quake, which hit around midday, caused widespread destruction, toppling buildings and bridges.
International search-and-rescue teams arrived in Myanmar on Saturday to aid in recovery efforts.
In Mandalay, 25-year-old Htet Min Oo recounted being pulled from beneath a collapsed wall by fellow residents. He searched for his missing grandmother and uncles but eventually lost hope. “I don’t know if they are still alive under the debris,” he said tearfully. “After so long, I don’t think there’s any hope.”
Hundreds of miles from the epicenter, a high-rise building collapse in Bangkok, Thailand, left construction workers trapped. Rescue crews deployed excavators, drones, and search dogs to locate survivors, with at least 47 people still missing, including Myanmar nationals. “We always have hope,” said Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. “We’re working around the clock.”
Myanmar’s military government confirmed 1,644 deaths as of Saturday, according to Agence France-Presse, while at least nine people died in Thailand.
The U.S. Geological Survey warned that many buildings in the region are vulnerable to earthquakes, and the overall damage could exceed the country’s annual economic output. “High casualties and extensive damage are probable, and the disaster is likely widespread,” the USGS reported. The death toll had initially been estimated at around 150 on Friday but was expected to rise significantly.
