Myanmar's deadly earthquake affects 17 million people, UN says

Khine Lin Kyaw, Bloomberg News on Apr 4, 2025

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More than 3,000 people have been killed and 17 million affected in Myanmar by a devastating earthquake that hit the country about a week ago, according to a United Nations report.

The hardest-hit areas remain without electricity and water. Telecommunications and internet access are severely disrupted while transport has been snarled in several regions, the report released Thursday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

It added the actual figures for deaths and casualties could be underreported due to widespread telecommunications disruptions. Myanmar’s ruling junta said the death toll was 3,145 as of Thursday, adding thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed.

“The human toll is devastating and keeps growing. In this critical time, the people of Myanmar need the world’s support,” OCHA said separately in a written statement. The U.N. is dispatching officials to the country to help provide humanitarian assistance.

Myanmar’s military announced a unilateral ceasefire in its fight against rebels until April 22 to expedite relief and reconstruction efforts. The move offers a potential brief reprieve from fighting that reignited four years ago after the military seized control of much of the nation in a coup.

Even as damage from the 7.7 magnitude quake was still being assessed, pro-democracy rebel groups reported fresh military airstrikes about a week ago in areas close to the epicenter.

“This disaster has laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing people throughout the country,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, said in a statement.