Myanmar quake death toll rises sharply to over 1,000 as rescuers dig through rubble

International aid began to arrive in Myanmar on Saturday as rescuers searched for survivors after a powerful earthquake devastated the Southeast Asian nation amid concerns the number killed would soar.

BANGKOK — The death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen sharply to over 1,000, with fears it could climb much higher, state-run MRTV reported Saturday, as rescuers scrambled through rubble and desperate cries for help echoed from collapsed buildings.

The quake, whose epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, devastated one of the world's poorest nations as it reverberated through the country and across Southeast Asia.

The earthquake occurred around 1:30 p.m. local time on Friday, and it was followed 11 minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. At 3:50 p.m. local time on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded another 5.1-magnitude earthquake near the capital Naypyitaw, about 160 miles south of Mandalay.

In neighboring Thailand, several people have been confirmed killed following Friday’s quake, with dozens more missing, many of them trapped in the debris of a 30-storey building in Bangkok. Dramatic footage showed a massive plume of smoke as the building collapsed, with construction workers scrambling to escape — some swallowed by a thick dust cloud.

According to the city's governor, Chadchart Sittipun, rescuers could detect signs of life from about 15 people under the rubble, as crews continued to race against time Saturday to uncover survivors.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/myanmar-quake-death-toll-rises-rcna198686

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