According to reports, the death toll from the March 28 earthquake in central Myanmar has risen to over 2,700. As of 8 AM on April 1, official figures confirm 2,719 deaths, 4,521 injuries, and 441 people still missing. Rescue operations continue in the earthquake-affected regions of Sagaing and Mandalay, though teams face significant challenges in their recovery efforts.
Rescue teams report increasing difficulties in clearing operations as bodies trapped under collapsed buildings have begun to decompose. Workers in Sagaing city have disclosed that the decomposing bodies are breaking apart during extraction attempts, requiring frequent glove changes after each body recovery. The strong odor from decomposition is making the work particularly challenging. Rescue workers have also indicated an urgent need for more body bags and protective gloves to continue their operations effectively.
In Mandalay, residents passing near collapsed buildings report detecting strong decomposition odors. Local citizens express concern that bodies remain trapped under the rubble, warning that if clearing operations are not completed promptly, long-term public health issues could arise. They particularly emphasize the urgency of clearing operations due to high temperatures accelerating decomposition rates, highlighting the need for immediate action in debris removal and body recovery.
Property owners in both Mandalay and Sagaing cities are struggling to clear their collapsed homes and buildings due to prohibitively expensive equipment rental costs for excavators and bulldozers. Local residents face economic challenges in clearing their properties, leading to delays in recovery efforts. In Baungtoe village of Amarapura township, proper burial ceremonies are being conducted for deceased civilians as communities cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
