Myanmar earthquake death toll nearing 4,000

Rescuers have recovered the bodies of over 39 Buddhist monks and five lay people from collapsed buildings at the Masoeyein monastery in Mandalay as of Tuesday. “We were fortunate because the five-story new Masoeyein hall collapsed after the monks had already gone outside,” Pinnyasara, a student at the monastery, told DVB.

The death toll of Buddhist monks in Mandalay is over 100, according to various reports. The earthquake destroyed the U Hla Thein monastery, where 270 monks were taking a religious exam on March 28. Rescue workers told the Associated Press on Monday that 50 bodies had been recovered, 70 monks escaped, and 150 remain missing. At least 301 bodies were recovered from five towns in the Mandalay Region on Monday. 

DVB data states that the death toll stands at 3,866 with 2,462 bodies recovered in Mandalay by Wednesday—over 63.6 percent of the national total killed. At least 5,455 people were injured and 719 others are still missing. The regime updated its number killed to 2,886 with 4,639 injured and 373 still missing on Wednesday. A DVB data infographic with the totals included is at the bottom of this newsletter.

Resistance groups call for ceasefire with regime

Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing stated that “necessary defense operations” would continue during an event for earthquake relief in Naypyidaw on Tuesday. He acknowledged that some ethnic armed groups are not currently engaged in fighting his regime forces but claimed they are preparing and organizing for future conflict which he considers acts of “aggression.” 

“This is an indication of how weak his regime and military are at this juncture – they are mostly in defensive mode, trying to prevent their positions being overrun,” said Richard Horsey, Senior Adviser on Burma for the International Crisis Group. “It seems that they dare not relent. But it means that, once again, they are putting regime survival above the interests of the people, even at a time of calamity,” 

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA), announced a unilateral one-month ceasefire – except in self-defense – in order to “effectively assist people affected” by the earthquake. The National Unity Government (NUG) declared its own unilateral two-week ceasefire, excluding self-defence measures, on March 30.

Bodies recovered from collapsed Bangkok high-rise building

Thailand’s Ruamkatanyu Rescue Foundation stated that it has detected 70 signs which could indicate people under the rubble of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok, which collapsed during the earthquake on March 28. Bangkok Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej said it was unclear whether all 70 signs represented missing people, but six were identified as human bodies. 

“We’re at the site to assess how many undocumented workers [from Burma] were among the workforce and to see what kind of compensation will be provided for the victims,” Mone Tine from the Worker Alliance Group told DVB. It is an organization advocating on behalf of migrant workers from Burma in Thailand. There is no exact number of migrant workers trapped under the rubble of the 30-story building.

Mone Tine added that the Thai Social Security Office has pledged 1.7 million THB ($50,000 USD) for each documented migrant worker killed, and instructed employers to pay compensation for undocumented workers. Thirteen bodies have been recovered, 19 have been injured and 76 are still missing at the site, the Bangkok Post reported. Laos and Cambodian migrants were also reported among the workers.

News by Region

CHINLAND—Chin resistance forces told DVB that an airstrike was carried out by the Burma Air Force on Mindat Township on Tuesday. Mindat is located around 107 miles (172 km) south of the state capital Hakha. “Chin resistance forces are urging the [regime] to cease airstrikes during the earthquake response,” the Mindat Administrative Team spokesperson told DVB.

MANDALAY—The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) stated on Tuesday that it has confirmed the death of at least four people inside Obo Prison when their cells collapsed during the earthquake on March 28. Eleven prisoners were injured. “The number of deaths are likely to increase,” Thaik Tun Oo, the PPNM spokesperson, told DVB. 

SAGAING—Kani Township residents told DVB that a motorized paraglider attacked a village on Tuesday. Kani is located 36 miles (57 km) southwest of the region’s capital Monywa. “The bomb was dropped on the main road near our village,” a Kani resident told DVB.

NAYPYIDAW—Myanma Railways staff told DVB that 12 people died and 14 were injured in the collapse of 24 four-story buildings housing staff. Over 1,600 employees and family members have been evacuated to Naypyidaw Central Railway Station and Pobbathiri Township for temporary shelter. 

“There is a lot of damage, and there are still dead bodies inside those collapsed buildings,” a Myanma Railways employee told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The Yangon-Mandalay railway is not operational due to damage along the track in Naypyidaw, Taungoo and Mandalay.  

SHAN—A group calling itself Human Right of Inle Region stated that three homes in Yepu and Payartaung villages near Inle Lake were destroyed by an artillery and drone attack by pro-regime forces, including the Pa-O National Army (PNA), in Nyaungshwe Township on Sunday and Monday. 

“The people are already suffering from the earthquake. These attacks are unacceptable,” a member of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Inle told DVB. Nyaungshwe is located 24 miles (38 km) south of the state capital Taunggyi. No casualties were reported by the PDF.

ARAKAN—Maungdaw Township residents told DVB that the bodies of four men aged 17 to 41 were recovered near the Mayu mountains on Sunday. The four were arrested by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships on March 29. 

“There were multiple gunshot wounds all over their bodies,” a Maungdaw resident told DVB. The Arakan Army (AA) took full control of northern Arakan when it seized Maungdaw on Dec. 8. It claimed that Rohingya armed groups fought alongside regime forces last year.   

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,430 MMK) 

The death toll from Myanmar’s earthquake on March 28 has reached 3,866 with 5,455 injured and 719 missing on April 2. Follow DVB English News for updates. (Credit: DVB)