The number of victims of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar has reached 3,084, with another 4,715 injured. The Myanmar military junta announced this on Thursday, April 3. The country has declared a week of mourning starting from April 1.
Three days after the earthquake, there is almost no hope of finding survivors under the rubble, writes the AFP agency. Rescue operations are being complicated by the hot weather, with temperatures rising to 40 degrees Celsius.
In the city of Mandalay, close to the earthquake's epicenter, the sweltering heat accelerated the decomposition of the victims’ bodies, which could make it difficult to identify them, notes the agency.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the highest level of emergency due to the risk of disease spread in the country, which is experiencing a civil war.
According to the WHO, Myanmar urgently needs $8 million (7.4 million euros) to provide vital aid, prevent the spread of diseases, and restore essential medical services.
Myanmar's military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has asked for help "from every country, every organization". Previously, the country's military administration had even refused international help in the event of major natural disasters, AFP highlights.
