Kuwait City: The military authorities in Myanmar on Sunday reported that the casualty toll of Friday's earthquake climbed to some 1,700 deaths and 3,400 injury cases. Some 300 people remain missing amid continuing search and relief operations at the hit regions, the military council said in a statement via the official television.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the 7.7 degrees earthquake had shaken the central city of Mandalay, flattening buildings, damaging infrastructure and utilities. Commander of the military council General Min Aung Hlaing said in a statement that the casualty toll might increase, indicating that the rescue operations were hampered with some issues.
Meanwhile, the opposition National Unity Government (in exile) declared that it would cease fighting the military forces later on Sunday. Myanmar's armed internal strife pits the military against groups, backed by the government in exile.
Regional nations namely India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia sent aid to the stricken country. Friday's fiery tremors rippled to neighboring countries. In Bangkok, a skyscraper collapsed killing 18 people. Up to 78 others were reported trapped under the rubble.