Myanmar earthquake death toll surpasses 3,000, ceasefire declared for relief efforts

The death toll from Myanmar 's devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake rose to 3,085, with search and rescue operations still underway, the country's ruling military junta confirmed on Thursday.

According to junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun, a total of 3,085 deaths have been confirmed, while 341 people remain missing and 4,715 have been reported injured. Rescue teams and aid workers from 17 countries have arrived to assist, bringing nearly 1,000 tonnes of relief supplies.

"We have been continuing search and rescue work, and we would like to express special gratitude for the hard work of the international community and medical teams," Zaw Min Tun said.

In response to the disaster, the military declared a temporary ceasefire in the ongoing civil war, announcing on state television MRTV that hostilities would be halted until April 22 to facilitate relief efforts. However, the military warned resistance groups against using the ceasefire to reorganise or launch attacks, cautioning that "necessary measures" would be taken if violations occurred. Meanwhile, opposition forces have said that they reserve the right to defend themselves if attacked.

The earthquake, which struck at midday last Friday, caused widespread devastation, toppling buildings, collapsing bridges, and severely damaging infrastructure. Despite ongoing rescue operations, most teams are recovering bodies rather than survivors. However, on Wednesday, rescue workers pulled four people alive from the rubble in different locations.

The quake has exacerbated Myanmar's already dire humanitarian crisis, which has been worsened by prolonged conflict. Even before the disaster, more than 3 million people were displaced, and nearly 20 million were in urgent need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations. Local sources fear the actual death toll could be even higher than reported.