Myanmar has declared a week of national mourning following a catastrophic earthquake that has claimed over 2,000 lives. With hopes of finding more survivors fading, the nation continues to grapple with the devastating aftermath.
The ruling junta announced that national flags would fly at half-mast until April 6 as a mark of respect for the victims.
Also, a nationwide minute of silence will be observed on Tuesday at precisely 12:51:02 p.m. (0621 GMT), the exact time the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday.
Citizens have been urged to pause wherever they are to honor the deceased, while media outlets will suspend broadcasts to display mourning symbols. Religious ceremonies and prayers are also set to take place at temples and pagodas.
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city and one of the hardest-hit areas, the urgency of rescue operations has begun to wane. With a population of over 1.7 million, the city remains in chaos as thousands struggle to find shelter.
“The situation is so dire that words cannot fully describe it,” said Aung Myint Hussein, chief administrator of Mandalay’s Sajja North mosque.
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Many residents have spent four consecutive nights sleeping on the streets, too afraid to return to damaged buildings or unable to find shelter.
Some have set up makeshift tents, but many especially children are left to sleep on blankets laid in the middle of roads, trying to avoid the dangers of aftershocks and falling debris.
As of Monday, the death toll has reached 2,056, with over 3,900 people injured and at least 270 still missing. Authorities expect these numbers to rise as search efforts continue.
Among the victims are three Chinese nationals, according to Chinese state media, and two French citizens, confirmed by France’s foreign ministry.
The impact of the earthquake was felt beyond Myanmar’s borders, with at least 19 fatalities reported in Bangkok, Thailand, after the tremor caused the collapse of a 30-story building under construction.
As Myanmar mourns its dead, the full scale of the disaster is still unfolding, with rescue teams racing against time to provide aid to those in desperate need.
