YANGON — The death toll from Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 2,056, with around 3,900 people injured and nearly 270 reported missing, according to the country’s State Administration Council Information Team on Monday, reported Xinhua.
International and domestic rescuers have been racing against time to save more lives in the quake-affected areas.
The first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government arrived in Myanmar on Monday, while several other nations, including Malaysia have sent aid and search and rescue (SAR) teams.
Yesterday, Malaysian Humanitarian Aid Mission (MAS-01) team comprising Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) personnel, arrived at Naypyidaw, in Sagaing district in central Myanmar, where the earthquake struck Friday.
The contingent, led by PgKB I Mohamad Hafiezul Abdul Halim, comprises 16 representatives from the Malaysian Armed Forces, 13 from the Royal Malaysia Police and 21 from the Fire and Rescue Department.
According to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), Malaysia’s SAR mission has been assigned to three locations in the district, namely at Moe Gya Mosque, Nyoo Ma Mosque and Nyat Private School, with local residents estimating that 20 victims are still trapped.
The MAS-01 team will focus on facilities such as places of worship such as mosques and temples as well as schools and hospitals, Nadma said in a statement.
the SMART operation in the country is facing security issues, including reports of conflict areas still being bombed by the Myanmar military and the risk of landmines present around Sagaing, especially near temples.
“Aftershocks are still frequently occurring with magnitudes of between 3 and 5.1, posing a risk of subsequent collapses of unstable buildings, endangering the MAS-01 Team,” according to the statement.
NADMA said the SMART team also faced logistical issues such as fuel supply for vehicles and equipment like generators, but Malawakil (Malaysian missions abroad) helped identify petrol stations that could undertake supplies for the team. – April 1, 2025