Myanmar will mark a solemn moment of silence on Tuesday to honor the victims of Friday’s devastating earthquake, which has now claimed more than 2,000 lives. As rescue teams scale down their operations, the hope of finding survivors in the rubble continues to diminish.
In an official statement, Myanmar’s junta announced that national flags will fly at half-mast until April 6 to express sympathy for the loss of life and the widespread damage caused by the massive 7.7-magnitude quake. The country will observe a minute of silence at 12:51:02 pm (0621 GMT), the exact time the earthquake struck. Citizens are being urged to pause and reflect, while media outlets will halt broadcasts and prayers will be offered at religious sites across the country.
The death toll from the quake has reached 2,056, with over 3,900 injured and more than 270 still missing. These numbers are expected to climb as the destruction continues to be assessed. The earthquake’s shockwaves have also claimed lives in neighboring Thailand, with a 30-story construction tower collapsing in Bangkok.
In Mandalay, one of the worst-hit cities, residents have been forced to camp out in the streets for several nights, unable to return to their damaged homes or fearing further aftershocks. “It’s hard to put into words what is happening here,” said Aung Myint Hussein, the chief administrator of Mandalay’s Sajja North mosque. The devastation is overwhelming, with many people sleeping on blankets in the streets, trying to avoid the crumbling buildings that surround them.
Mandalay’s General Hospital, overwhelmed by the influx of patients, has been evacuated, and many are now being treated in the open, exposed to the harsh tropical heat. Despite these dire conditions, there is some sign of normalcy returning as traffic resumes and local vendors set up once again.
Myanmar’s challenges are compounded by its ongoing civil war, which has devastated its economy and infrastructure. The World Health Organization has declared the earthquake a top-level emergency and is seeking $8 million in aid, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is appealing for more than $100 million in humanitarian assistance.
International rescue teams have begun arriving, and Myanmar’s military junta has made an unprecedented appeal for foreign aid. The junta has thanked China, Russia, and India for their support, but reports of military air strikes on opposition groups have raised concerns about the safety of civilians and aid delivery.
As Myanmar grapples with this immense tragedy, the United Nations has called for a ceasefire to allow for the safe and efficient delivery of aid, urging all parties to focus on the protection of civilians. The ongoing conflict has already displaced more than 3.5 million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis facing the nation.
