What we know so far …
Myanmar’s ruling junta has said the death toll from Friday’s major earthquake has risen to 2,056. A spokesperson said that 270 more people were still missing, with 3,900 people injured
At the U Hla Thein monastery in Mandalay, 270 monks were taking a religious exam at the time the earthquake struck. Rescue workers at the scene Monday said 70 were able to escape, but 50 have already been found dead, and 150 are still unaccounted for
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has reports of three hospitals destroyed and 22 partially damaged in the region, stating that “the earthquake’s devastation has overwhelmed healthcare facilities”. WHO earlier issued an urgent flash appeal for $8m (£6.1m / €7.4m) for emergency support
In a statement, the UN representative in Myanmar said “our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy”, pointing out that “even before this earthquake, nearly 20 million people in Myanmar were in need of humanitarian assistance”
Communications with many of the affected areas are poor, partly because many of them have been ravaged by the country’s ongoing civil war, with much of the country out of the control of the ruling junta
The US Geological Survey’s predictive modelling estimates Myanmar’s death toll could eventually top 10,000 and losses could exceed the country’s annual economic output
A rescue team from Taiwan has been stood ready to provide assistance to Myanmar, but has not been called upon, amid speculation the team was denied entry by Myanmar’s military rulers, who are closely aligned with China
In Thailand 19 people are known to have been killed, with more than 70 still missing. Bangkok deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej has indicated that it is felt unlikely that anybody else would be rescued from the building that collapsed there during Friday’s earthquake
Thailand’s prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has called a meeting with government departments responsible for sending SMS alerts to the public, amid criticism of the response on Friday when the earthquake struck
Official death toll from Myanmar quake rises to 2,056
Myanmar’s ruling junta has said the death toll from Friday’s major earthquake has risen to 2,056.
AFP reports that in a statement a junta spokesperson said that 270 more people were still missing, with 3,900 people injured.
In Thailand 19 people are known to have been killed, with more than 70 still missing.
