The death toll from the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has risen to 3,471, state media reported Sunday, as search and rescue operations continue amid fears of disease outbreaks and additional tremors. Authorities said 4,671 people were injured and 214 remain missing. At least 682 bodies have been recovered from the rubble, while more than 650 people have been rescued alive, thanks to efforts by local and international emergency teams. The quake devastated much of the central region, particularly the city of Mandalay near the epicenter. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, who visited survivors in the area, described the destruction as "staggering," and called on the international community to increase support. "Families are sleeping outside the ruins of their homes while the bodies of loved ones are pulled from rubble. There is real fear of more quakes," Fletcher wrote on X. Relief agencies have warned that unseasonal rains and extreme heat pose a serious health threat to survivors now living in makeshift camps. There are growing concerns over the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Transportation infrastructure is slowly coming back online. The Yangon–Mandalay railway line and Mandalay International Airport reopened after repairs were made to quake-damaged embankments, railway bridges, and warped tracks. In neighboring Thailand, the quake has claimed 24 lives, with 77 people still missing. — Agencies
