Myanmar hospitals overwhelmed as military government says more than 2,000 killed

Summary

More than 2,000 people have died in Myanmar following Friday's powerful earthquake, the country's military leadership says, as it declares a week of national mourning
The UN has made an urgent appeal for $8m (£6.2m), as aid groups warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, with hospitals damaged and overwhelmed - the BBC has been told the smell of dead bodies is permeating the streets
BBC Burmese's Htet Naing Zhaw has visited a preschool in Kyaukse, where school bags, books and learning materials lay scattered among the rubble
Myanmar's military leaders are still carrying out air strikes against an armed resistance they have been fighting for four years, reports BBC's Rebecca Henschke
In neighbouring Thailand, 20 people are known to have died, and today thousands have been evacuated from cracked buildings in Bangkok
Rescue efforts continue for 74 construction workers trapped under the rubble of a collapsed high-rise building in the capital - but there has been no sign of life in the wreckage for hours, the city's deputy governor says

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'Nothing is left' - Myanmar resident reels from earthquake

Live Reporting

Edited by Andrew Humphrey and Alex Smith, with BBC Burmese reporting from Myanmar and reporters in Bangkok

If you're just joining uspublished at 04:05 British Summer Time 30 March
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Many people are believed to be trapped under rubble in quake-hit areas
It's nearing 10am on Sunday in Myanmar, where rescue efforts are entering their third day after a devastating magnitude 7.7. earthquake struck the country.
- At least 1,600 people are dead and more than 3,400 injured as as result of Friday's earthquake, according to Myanmar's military leadership, with 139 people still missing
- The quake was also felt hundreds of miles away in Thailand and China - 17 people have died in the Thai capital, Bangkok, and 83 others are still missing
- Many areas in Myanmar remain cut off from aid in the wake of the disaster, which inflicted widespread damage to critical infrastructure such as roads and communications networks
- The BBC spoke to rescue workers on Saturday who said the death toll is likely to rise as people are still missing under rubble in the quake-hit areas
- The armed wing of Myanmar's government in exile, the National Unity Government (NUG), has announced a two-week ceasefire so that much-needed aid can get in
- Aid groups have warned, however, that a severe shortage of medical supplies are further hampering relief efforts
- The military government has issued a rare plea for aid, but continued to bomb parts of Myanmar in attacks that the UN described as "completely outrageous and unacceptable"
UK government pledges up to £10m in Myanmar aidpublished at 03:40 British Summer Time 30 March
A package worth up to £10m ($12.9m) of "life saving aid" has been pledged for Myanmar by the UK government.
The Foreign Office says the package is to support the humanitarian response "in the hardest hit areas of the earthquake", and will focus on water and food supplies, medicine and shelter.
Severe lack of medical supplies is hampering relief efforts, UN sayspublished at 03:39 British Summer Time 30 March
It's been more than 40 hours since a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, killing more than 1,600 people.
As rescuers search for survivors, the United Nations has said a severe lack of medical supplies is hampering relief efforts in the war-torn country.
The quake inflicted widespread damage to critical infrastructure such as roads and communication networks. This, combined with an ongoing civil war between the military government, rebel groups and armed resistance forces, has made it difficult for aid organisations to respond to the natural disaster.
Marcoluigi Corsi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Myanmar, said that as many as 20 million may have been impacted by the earthquake.
“It’s quite a large area which has been affected, and the estimation is that approximately 20 million people live in that area," Corsi said in an interview with UN News. "At the moment, in terms of casualty, the numbers keep on increasing."