Tue Apr 01 09:42:07 UTC 2025: **Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Exceeds 2,700; Rescue Efforts Hampered by Conflict**

MANDALAY, MYANMAR—A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has claimed the lives of over 2,700 people, with the death toll expected to rise above 3,000, according to the military junta. A minute of silence was observed across the country on Tuesday to honor the victims, including 50 children killed at a preschool near Mandalay. The quake, the strongest to hit the country in over a century, caused widespread destruction, toppling ancient pagodas and modern buildings.

Rescue efforts have been complicated by the ongoing civil war, with reports of military restrictions on aid access to areas controlled by armed opposition groups. Amnesty International has urged the military to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations. In one instance, aid workers were reportedly stopped by troops and militias from reaching critical areas.

Despite the grim outlook, a glimmer of hope emerged on Tuesday when rescuers pulled a 63-year-old woman alive from the rubble 91 hours after the quake. However, authorities believe further survival is unlikely. Survivors are facing dire conditions, struggling to find food, water, and shelter, often sleeping outdoors in fear of aftershocks. One hospital in Mandalay is treating patients outside due to the extreme heat.

The situation is particularly dire in Sagaing, near the epicenter, where access for aid workers remains severely limited. In Bangkok, Thailand, rescue workers continue searching the wreckage of a collapsed building, though hopes of finding survivors are fading. Scanners have detected several human-shaped figures in the rubble, but no signs of life.

The earthquake’s impact extends beyond the immediate physical destruction. The ongoing conflict hinders aid distribution, leaving countless people vulnerable and exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The military junta’s actions are raising concerns about their commitment to assisting those in need.

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