The Muslim community in Sagaing town of Sagaing Region told DVB that it is facing challenges in burying over 200 bodies of those killed during the earthquake. Three Sagaing mosques, including the Myodaw, the Myoma, and the Masjid Jamae, collapsed on Friday.

“We have to send the bodies to Mandalay because the Muslim cemetery in Sagaing is in a military-controlled zone, making access to it difficult,” a resident told DVB on condition of anonymity. 

Sagaing town – the epicenter of the earthquake – is located 68 miles (109 km) east of the region’s capital Monywa. Sagaing residents reported that 90 percent of the town has been completely destroyed and that bodies left out in the open are decomposing. 

The Ava Bridge, which connects Sagaing to neighbouring Mandalay Region, collapsed during the earthquake. A second bridge was closed indefinitely due to structural damage, according to residents. Travel between the two regions can only be done via the Irrawaddy River.

The Fire Services Department shared on Sunday that it recovered one body and rescued four survivors from the collapsed Myat private school in Sagaing town. 

The DVB data team has documented 2,939 bodies have been recovered, 3,492 people have been injured, and 390 others are still missing nationwide as of Monday.

Regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told media on Monday that over 1,700 bodies were recovered, another 3,400 people were injured, and 300 were still missing.