Myanmar's deadliest earthquake in decades kills over 1,600, cripples aid efforts as infrastructure crumbles.

A catastrophic earthquake struck Myanmar on March 29, claiming over 1,600 lives inflicting widespread devastation, the junta said.

The 7.7-magnitude tremor, one of the largest to hit the Southeast Asian nation in a century, caused severe damage to airports, bridges, and critical infrastructure, hampering relief efforts in a country already torn by civil war.

The earthquake's epicenter near Mandalay sent shockwaves across Myanmar, as buildings collapsed, fires erupted, and entire towns were flattened. More than 3,400 people were reported injured, and nearly 140 remain missing, with these numbers expected to climb.

A grim prediction from the US Geological Survey warned that fatalities could surpass 10,000, with economic losses potentially exceeding Myanmar’s entire annual GDP.

The damage was widespread, with major roads and more than 2,900 buildings affected. Both Mandalay and Naypyitaw airports were rendered inoperable, complicating the delivery of much-needed aid.

Flights carrying relief supplies and rescue teams, including those from India, China, and Malaysia, were rerouted to Yangon, Myanmar's commercial capital.

The United Nations has highlighted the difficulty in reaching affected areas due to disrupted transport routes, including the Yangon-Naypyitaw-Mandalay expressway, which has seen extensive cracks and distortions.

Myanmar's opposition National Unity Government confirmed extensive infrastructure damage, including a collapsed control tower at Naypyitaw airport.

Despite the dire situation, Myanmar’s military junta has allowed foreign aid to enter the country. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's junta chief, made an unprecedented plea for international assistance, and teams from various nations, including China, South Korea, and the United States, are now working to provide emergency relief.

China pledged $13.77 million in aid, while South Korea announced an initial $2 million contribution.

However, local residents are growing desperate. In Mandalay, survivors have been digging through rubble with their bare hands, unable to access heavy machinery or sufficient rescue teams. "No help is coming," one survivor said, describing the overwhelming scale of the disaster.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Thailand, the quake also caused significant damage. A skyscraper under construction in Bangkok collapsed, killing at least nine people, with dozens more feared trapped beneath the rubble.

The collapse site, near the bustling Chatuchak market, has seen frantic rescue efforts, as construction workers, including several from Myanmar, remain buried.

Rescue teams in Bangkok are working around the clock, using excavators and drones to search for survivors. But for relatives like Chanpen Kaewnoi, who rushed to the site after learning her mother and sister were trapped, the uncertainty is agonizing. "I want to see their faces again," she said, her voice trembling with fear.

As Myanmar grapples with its worst natural disaster in recent memory, the international community has vowed to continue providing support.

However, the sheer scale of the destruction—coupled with a crumbling infrastructure and ongoing civil conflict—threatens to overwhelm the country's ability to recover.