Official quake death toll rises to 3,600
The death toll from the March 28 earthquake reached 3,600 on Monday with 160 people missing, according to the military regime.
Mandalay Region suffered the highest fatalities, followed by the junta’s nerve center of Naypyitaw, and Sagaing Region. But the real death toll is expected to be much higher than the junta figures.
Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing told a cabinet meeting on Saturday that compensation of 1 million kyats will be paid to the families of each victim who died.
Malaysia’s Myanmar community welcome rescue team home
The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) was given a warm welcome in Kuala Lumpur from Myanmar exiles on its return from earthquake-hit Myanmar.
Representatives presented the team with flowers and traditional scarves.
The team, who arrived in Myanmar on March 30, was deployed to Sagaing, where it was the only international search and rescue team. The team was greeted by members of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities who gathered outside the SMART headquarters to await their return.
“We know their SAR operations would have been extremely challenging, as infrastructure and resources are limited because of the ongoing civil war in Myanmar,” said James La Seng, representing the Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia (COBEM). “It’s even more touching that they sacrificed their Hari Raya celebrations for this.”
Jaw Tu Hkawng, a Kachin refugee, said she had felt helpless when the earthquake happened as the population in her home country worsened with the devastating earthquake. She added she was “deeply touched by the humanity and love” shown by the SMART team.
During its 10-day deployment, the SMART team rescued a 47-year-old man who had been trapped under debris for six days and recovered 10 bodies together with local rescuers.
Myanmar Suspends Tourist Visas After Quake
Myanmar’s Ministry of Immigration and Population has suspended all visas for foreign tourists starting from April 3 as the country’s earthquake death toll continues to rise.
The announcement came after the junta announced that the devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 resulted in at least 3,600 deaths, nearly 5,000 people injured, and over 200 missing.
“Due to the recent earthquake, we regret to inform you that tourist visa applications will be temporarily suspended starting from 3 April 2025,” the ministry said in an announcement. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding during this time. A further announcement will be made once the service resumes.”
Business visa applications will be accepted as usual, it added.
The junta has also denied requests for entry by foreign media seeking to cover the earthquake in affected areas citing its inability to provide adequate accommodation. Read more
Private US aid organization sets up field hospital in Naypyitaw
Samaritan’s Purse, a US-based Christian humanitarian aid organization, began setting up an emergency field hospital in Naypyitaw on Monday. The facility is able to treat up to 200 patients a day and will include an ICU, emergency room, pharmacy, lab and two operating theaters capable of handling dozens of surgeries daily, the organization said.
Sagaing’s Indaw falls to allied rebel forces
The ethnic Kachin Independence Army and local allies have taken full control of Indaw town in northern Sagaing on the border with Kachin State after about nine months of fighting.
On Monday, fighters including the All Burma Students Democratic Front and Sagaing People’s Defense Force captured the junta’s last strategic base on a hill with a Japanese underground military hospital from World War 2.
Resistance troops said fighting resumed on April 1 as encircled junta troops launched a counter-attack with heavy artillery and drones despite a temporary ceasefire being declared by the regime the following day.
Chin Rebels Rout Myanmar Junta From Falam After Five-Month Battle
The ethnic Chin Brotherhood on Monday finally took full control of the strategically important administrative town of Falam in their home state after a five-month siege.
The alliance defeated the junta’s last remaining hilltop position in Falam, Infantry Battalion 268, on Monday morning, according to a source on the ground.
“The alliance is currently clearing the town, and junta aircraft are still coming in for reconnaissance,” he told The Irrawaddy. “We can’t reveal more details for now.”
The alliance consists of the Zomi Federal Union, Chin National Organization, Mindat Chin National Council, Maraland and Kampelet Chin Defense Forces (CDF), and Matupi CDF Brigade 1.
They started besieging Falam in November last year, blockading supply routes to the town, but the regime launched massive airstrikes to defend it. Read more
MNDAA honors fallen comrades in liberation of Kokang
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) organized the Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) on Monday in Laukkai town, Shan State, which it controls, honoring its members who died in the fight for the liberation of Kokang, or Shan State Special Region 1. MNDAA leader Peng Daren, who earlier was reportedly under house arrest in China’s Yunnan, was present at the event. The MNDAA recently promised to surrender Lashio, the capital of northern Shan State, to the regime under pressure from China. The anti-regime Operation 1027 offensive launched by the Brotherhood Alliance including the MNDAA in late 2023 saw the regime lose control of much of northern Shan.
