Myanmar earthquake death toll reaches nearly 4,000
Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on a phone call Monday that about 500 Muslims were killed while they were worshipping in mosques in Mandalay and Sagaing regions during the earthquake on March 28, regime media reported. Over 50 mosques have been destroyed, residents told DVB.
DVB data states that the death toll stands at 3,756 with 2,414 bodies recovered in Mandalay by Tuesday—over 64.3 percent of the national total killed. A state of emergency was declared in the six hardest hit regions, including Mandalay, Sagaing – the epicenter of the earthquake – Magway, Bago, Naypyidaw, and Shan State.
In Sagaing, at least 695 bodies have been recovered. In Naypyidaw, at least 428 bodies have been recovered. In Shan State, at least 151 bodies have been recovered. And in the Bago Region, at least 68 bodies have been recovered. In total, 4,575 people were reported injured and 705 still remain missing as of April 1.
Regime airstrikes on Mandalay and Magway regions
Residents of Salin and Singu townships of Magway and Mandalay regions told DVB that more than 40 civilians, including children, were killed by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Letpanhla village in Mandalay and several villages in Magway on Monday. Salin is located 147 miles (220 km) east of the region’s capital Magway.
Singu is located 126 miles (202 km) north of Mandalay. It is partially under People’s Defense Force (PDF) control. “Relief work was ongoing in the earthquake-affected area when the airstrike happened,” a PDF spokesperson told DVB. The National Unity Government declared a unilateral ceasefire, except for self-defense, on March 30.
Over 80 civilians have been killed in four separate airstrikes on Mandalay’s Letpanhla village. Ten of thousands of residents from six villages in Magway’s Salin have fled their homes as regime fighter jets and motorized paragliders attacked. The PDF told DVB that telecommunication services have been down since the earthquake.
Min Aung Hlaing unlikely to attend regional summit in Bangkok
The attendance of Min Aung Hlaing to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand this week is uncertain following the earthquake on March 28, according to Thailand. The 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok starts today and ends April 4.
Leaders from all BIMSTEC member countries are expected to attend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told the media on Tuesday. A representative from the regime in Naypyidaw could still attend remotely, the spokesperson added. The earthquake also caused damage in Thailand. Bangkok was declared a “disaster zone” until Tuesday.
Founded in Bangkok in 1997, BIMSTEC includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Thailand. It aims to connect countries around the Bay of Bengal to promote economic growth, trade, and cooperation in areas like transportation, energy and counter-terrorism.
News by Region
SHAN—The death toll from 19 villages around Inle Lake in Nyaungshwe Township approached 100 on Monday, with 2,790 homes destroyed by the earthquake on Friday, according to aid workers and residents. Nyaungshwe is located 24 miles (38 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi.
“We’re now staying at monasteries, schools, and makeshift huts on floating islands,” a Nyaungshwe resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. He added that the phone connection is intermittent and that there’s a lack of clean drinking water and a suitable place to cook food. Read more.
KACHIN—Forty people were killed and an unknown number were injured by an airstrike on Mohnyin Township, which is located in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Brigade 8 territory, on Monday. Mohnyin is located 97 miles (156 km) south of the state capital Myitkyina.
“It’s hard to confirm [the death toll] because the internet and phone connections are down,” a source in Mohnyin told DVB on condition of anonymity. He added that the attack occurred without any fighting between regime and KIA forces nearby.
ARAKAN—Mrauk-U Township residents told DVB that an airstrike killed one resident and injured seven others in Alelzay Ward on Monday. Mrauk-U is located 88 miles (141 km) northeast of the Arakan State capital Sittwe. The Arakan Army (AA) captured Mrauk-U on Feb. 8, 2024.
A Kyaukphyu Township resident told DVB that a drone strike was carried out on Kalabar village on Sunday. There were no reported casualties. Kyaukphyu is located 317 miles (510 km) south of Sittwe. Both are under regime control, along with the island of Manaung.
YANGON—The regime continued its construction of a water festival pavilion for Thingyan at City Hall on Monday despite a week of mourning until April 6 being announced. No major damage was reported to homes or buildings in the city during the earthquake.
“I don’t know why [the regime] is still continuing the Thingyan water festival plans,” a resident told DVB on condition of anonymity. Another resident told DVB that electricity was available for two hours on Monday. The Thingyan water festival is scheduled for April 13–16.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,430 MMK)
Memories of Chiang Mai fundraiser for Myanmar earthquake relief. Follow DVB English News for live updates on the earthquake response.
