Myanmar earthquake toll crosses 1,700, more than 300 missing

The toll in the earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday morning has crossed 1,700, the Associated Press quoted the country’s government as stating on Monday.

While more than 300 persons are missing, about 3,400 were injured, said government Spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun.

The earthquake, of magnitude 7.5, struck at 11.50 am local time near central Myanmar’s Mandalay city on Friday morning. Mandalay is the country’s second-largest city by population.

A second quake, an aftershock, measuring 7.0 struck at 12.02 pm, according to India’s National Center for Seismology. The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude of the first quake was 7.7 and the second was 6.4.

Both quakes were shallow with a depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes tend to be more destructive.

The country’s military-led government has warned that the number of fatalities is expected to rise, reported Reuters.

The quake also rattled neighbouring Thailand. At least 18 people were killed in the capital Bangkok, about 1,000 kms away from Mandalay, according to the news agency.

At least 76 people were trapped under the debris of an under-construction building that collapsed due to the earthquakes.

So far, India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Russia have sent relief material and teams to aid the rescue operations in Myanmar.

The United States has pledged $2 million in aid “through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organisations” and stated that an...

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