Medical professionals and earthquake relief workers told DVB that residents of Sagaing and Mandalay towns may now be facing skin and gastrointestinal diseases from spending the past two weeks staying outdoors in makeshift shelters without access to proper sanitation since their homes were either destroyed or damaged by the March 28 earthquake.
“We have children ranging from five months to five years old who are suffering from high fevers, diarrhea, and vomiting,” an aid worker in Sagaing Township told DVB on the condition of anonymity. She added that many adults have had less serious symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
Mandalay is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Sagaing, the epicenter of the earthquake. The Thai Earthquake Surveillance Division recorded 439 aftershocks. The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has documented 113 as of Thursday.
Relief workers stated that the unseasonal rain on April 5 increased the risk of disease outbreaks in Mandalay and Sagaing, as rainwater washed over bodies still trapped under the rubble.
“The decaying bodies release gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which can cause eye and throat irritation, shortness of breath, and even be fatal in high concentrations. Bodily fluids can also spread infections,” a doctor involved in the relief efforts told DVB on the condition of anonymity. He called on the authorities to promptly remove dead bodies to prevent further outbreaks.
Search and rescue operations were shifted to relief and recovery efforts in Sagaing on April 6. Nearly 600 bodies have been recovered and over 1,000 were injured, an aid worker told DVB.
Residents of Kyaukse Township in Mandalay Region told DVB that they have received no assistance from the regime in Naypyidaw. Kyaukse reported 108 killed with over 200 injured as of April 5. A total of 147 buildings collapsed during the earthquake.
Wundwin, Thedaw and Pyawbwe towns in Mandalay Region have also not received any assistance from the regime. The three towns collectively reported over 200 killed and 80 injured. A total of 320 buildings collapsed there during the earthquake.
Kyaukse, Wundwin, Thedaw and Pyawbwe are located 27-116 miles (43-186 km) south of Mandalay.
Residents of Amarapura and Chanmyathazi townships in Mandalay told DVB they are being charged 100 million MMK ($22,000 USD) to rent machinery used to demolish houses left uninhabitable due to damage caused by the earthquake, and 20 million MMK ($4,400 USD) for rubble clearance.
DVB has documented that the death toll is 4,346, with 2,788 bodies recovered in Mandalay and 696 bodies recovered in Sagaing. At least 7,890 people have been injured and 210 are still missing as of Wednesday.
