NAYPYIDAW – Myanmar held a nationwide moment of silence Tuesday to mourn the 2,700 lives lost in last week's magnitude-7.9 earthquake, while rescue teams continue working against the clock to locate survivors. Over 400 people have been pulled alive from debris in the Mandalay region since the March 28 disaster.
Government authorities have mobilized emergency funds and deployed nearly 10,000 workers with heavy machinery to clear roads and restore critical infrastructure. Medical teams from Yangon and Naypyidaw have established mobile clinics in hard-hit rural areas, where landslides have complicated access.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has activated its regional disaster response mechanism, coordinating with Myanmar's disaster management agency. Preliminary estimates suggest over 150,000 people across central Myanmar have been displaced, with the World Health Organization warning of potential disease outbreaks in temporary shelters.
Analysts note the earthquake's economic impact could affect Myanmar's projected GDP growth, particularly through damage to agricultural infrastructure and historic pagodas in the cultural heartland. Tourism officials have temporarily closed access to several ancient Buddhist temple complexes pending structural assessments.
Condolence messages have poured in from ASEAN members and other Asian neighbors, with China's Ministry of Emergency Management offering specialized equipment and earthquake engineering expertise through bilateral cooperation channels.
