Read the RFA cover of these Burmese subjects.
Updated on April 3, 2025, at 10:40 a.m. HE.
The results of the death of the devastating earthquake of the Myanmar exceeded 3,000 people on Thursday, according to television controlled by the country, while a junta security bank slowed down the aid in certain regions.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, which struck on Friday between Sagaing Town and Mandalay City, left many people without food, clean water and shelter in the regions of Naytyidaw, Bago and Magway as well as the state of Shan.
Myanmar radio and television brought in 3,085 dead Thursday, more than 4,700 people injured and 341 missing.
Almost a week after the disaster, assistance organizations were still carrying out research and rescue operations, but many areas remain inaccessible, which makes it difficult to estimate the total number of people affected, a volunteer said.
The earthquake affected 17 million people in 57 of the country’s 330 cantons, 9 million, the United Nations Bureau for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated on Thursday.
In total, 65 aftershocks took place between the earthquake on Friday and Thursday morning, the junta meteorology department said in a press release.
In Mandalay, the replicas forced residents to present tents in parks and other open zones, said a resident, who refused to bear the name of security reasons.
“In Mandalay, when the aftershocks occurred, people were extremely worried. The houses collapsed, the walls of apartments cracked, we had not dared to stay there,” he said.
“We have no hope for our homes. With the aftershocks, we are just worried not to lose your life.”
Narrow inspections
The sagaing and mandalay regions are insurgency homes after the 2021 military coup that prompted civilians to join the dozens of ethnic armed groups and the defense forces.
Tensions are raised in the rescue areas, volunteers said, where the junta imposed a curfew at 10 p.m. and continued to bomb the areas with a high rebellious presence despite the ceasefire proposed by several insurgent armies.
On Tuesday, Junta’s spokesperson, Major-General, Zaw Min Tun, admitted that soldiers had shot a convoy of vehicles carrying the Chinese Red Cross supplies in the Canton of Nawnghkio from the northern state of Shan, the media said.
Junta’s forces started to strictly monitor the vehicles entering the city of Sagaing on Thursday morning, with a few, said an eyewitness.
“Since morning, they have covered all the entrances and outings. The cars were blocked on the bridge until this afternoon,” he said, refusing to be appointed for fear of reprisals. “Some of the cars crossing the bridge to help were returned to Mandalay.”
Strict inspections of goods have led thousands of cars to wait at the entrance, said the eyewitness.
Although there was a junta presence on sagaing roads before the earthquake, inspections became more strict than ever, said another resident whose vehicle was checked on Thursday.
The junta has not yet provided help with the people affected by the earthquake, residents of Sagain said.
Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun did not answer calls.
The UN warned the longer -term impacts on Thursday of the earthquake preceding the June crop plantation season.
He said the areas seriously affected by the earthquake – Mandalay, Magway, Sagaing and Shan State – represent a third of the production of Myanmar cereals.
The UN also warned that the risk of terrestrial mines and explosive ammunition in the country’s conflict areas has increased considerably as earthquakes can destabilize explosives.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Mike Firn and Stephen Wright.
Updated with the details of the UN humanitarian report, including on a number of people affected by the earthquake.