Myanmar is reeling from the devastation of a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday, killing more than 1,700 people and injuring thousands more.
Among the worst-hit were worshipers gathered for Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan, with a Myanmar Muslim organization reporting that over 700 people died inside mosques.
According to Tun Kyi, a member of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network, at least 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed in the quake, many of them older buildings that were highly vulnerable to seismic activity.
Videos posted by The Irrawaddy online news site showed mosques collapsing and terrified worshipers fleeing for safety.
The country’s military-led government confirmed on Monday that the official death toll had risen to at least 1,700, with 3,400 people injured and over 300 still missing.
However, the true number of casualties is feared to be much higher, as telecommunications outages and blocked roads have made it difficult to assess the full extent of the destruction.
“We’re really not clear on the scale of the destruction at this stage,” said Lauren Ellery, deputy director of programs in Myanmar for the International Rescue Committee.
Six regions have been placed under a state of emergency as aid workers scramble to provide emergency medical care, humanitarian supplies, and other forms of assistance.
The quake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, and caused widespread damage, including in the capital, Naypyidaw.
The country’s military has been leading rescue and recovery operations, but international organizations warn that many affected areas remain inaccessible.
With the crisis still unfolding, humanitarian groups are calling for urgent aid to reach those affected by one of Myanmar’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
