The death toll from a catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar last month rose above 3,500 as the chances of finding survivors become increasingly distant.
Myanmar’s fire department said Monday that rescuers from India, Malaysia and Singapore returned to their country after they finished their work.
It also added that 10 bodies have been recently recovered from the tile ble of a collapsed building in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, near the epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the country on March 28th.
State media reported Monday that at least 3,564 people died in the disaster, more than 5,000 other people were injured, and more than 200 are still missing.
Heavy rain and winds hampered rescue and relief efforts over the weekend, while increasing the difficulty of those whose homes had been destroyed.
Forecasters say more thunderstorms are possible in parts of the country this week.
Recent rains have increased the risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera spread, NGOs warned Monday.
“The situation is now desperate for children and their families. After being forced to flee abandoned homes, they are now facing unseasonably early rains on the brutal heat,” said Jeremy Stoner, interim Asia Regional Director for the charity.
“It’s difficult for people to maintain proper hygiene due to a lack of clean water. It can lead to disease outbreaks. I’m worried that we will be able to see more and more children who are sick with illnesses like diarrhea.
The earthquake deepened the challenges Myanmar has already faced since the civil war broke out after the military seized power from a democratically elected government in 2021.
The junta and its opposition announced a ceasefire to allow aid to be delivered to communities affected by the earthquake, but both sides accused them of breaking the temporary tactic.
On Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said:
