The latest figure of 1,644, announced by the ruling military junta, was a sharp increase on the 1,002 total it gave just hours earlier.
The earthquake struck on midday Friday with an epicentre not far from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, followed by several aftershocks including one measuring 6.4 magnitude.
Locals gather near a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandala (Photo: Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua via AP)
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in the throes of a prolonged and bloody civil war, which is already responsible for a massive humanitarian crisis.
Opposing groups have reported strikes in Chang-U township in the north-western Sagaing region, the epicentre of the earthquake.
But even though teams and equipment have been flown in from other nations, they are hindered by the airports in those cities being damaged and apparently unfit to land planes.
Search and rescue operations for those trapped in the wreckage of a collapsed building in Bangkok (Photo: Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty)
The earthquake has severely damaged major bridges and roads, making it difficult for resources to reach areas in need, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
A state of emergency has been declared in six regions and states in Myanmar by the military-run government.
Another 47 people were still missing, authorities said on Saturday.
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Most of Bangkok’s metro and light rail had resumed operation normally on Saturday morning, according to their operators, although two light rail lines remained closed pending further inspection.
It damaged part of the former royal palace and buildings, according to videos and photos released on social media.
In the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw, the earthquake damaged religious shrines, sending parts toppling to the ground.
Major General Zaw Min Tun, a military government spokesman, told MRTV that blood was in high demand in the hospitals in earthquake-hit areas, especially Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw.
A 37-member team from the Chinese province of Yunnan reached the city of Yangon early on Saturday with earthquake detectors, drones and other supplies, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
A satellite image shows collapsed and destroyed shacks and buildings in Mandalay (Photo: Maxar Technologies)
India sent a search and rescue team and a medical team as well as provisions, while Malaysia’s foreign ministry said the country will send 50 people on Sunday to help identify and provide aid to the worst-hit areas.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said UN staff were working to gather information on the number of people impacted, damage to infrastructure and the scope of the humanitarian needs.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US was going to help with the response, but some experts were concerned about this effort given his administration’s deep cuts in foreign assistance.
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