Myanmar earthquake: death toll over 10,000, disease fears rise

Rains in areas affected by the recent earthquake in Myanmar have hampered relief efforts and raised fears of disease outbreaks, while the death toll has surpassed 10,000.

In this regard, United Nations (UN) aid chief Tom Fletcher has said that more tents are urgently needed to shelter victims.

Upon this situation, aid agencies have warned that unseasonal rain and intense heat could lead to the spread of various diseases, including cholera, among the victims.

According to foreign media reports, approximately 3,500 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 4,500 people have been injured and more than 200 people are missing.

The UN aid chief added that people are sleeping under the open sky next to the rubble of their destroyed homes, while the bodies of their loved ones are being pulled out. We must urgently deliver tents and hope to the victims.

Myanmar’s neighbors, including China, India, and other Southeast Asian countries, have sent relief supplies and rescue teams to the affected areas, the United States has also announced at least $9 million in aid for earthquake victims.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the earthquake in Thailand has reached 24, of which 17 people died in the collapse of a building under construction in Bangkok, while 77 are still missing.

Since the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, a civil war has been ongoing, leaving over 3 million people homeless.

According to the UN report, one-third of the population needs humanitarian aid. Despite a recent ceasefire, aid groups say the military continues bombing in Karen and Shan states, killing at least 5 people.