Myanmar earthquake: Aftershock of 4.7 magnitude jolts country as death toll from first quake crosses 2,700

Days after the country was ravaged by a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake, Myanmar was hit yet again with a powerful aftershock reading 4.7 on the Richter Scale at 4.31 pm IST on Tuesday.

The death toll for Friday's quake is expected to reach 3,000 as the number has already crossed 2,700 with more bodies being found from the rubble of the disaster. Moreover, since the first quake jolted the nation, multiple aftershocks measuring 4 magnitude and above have repeatedly struck the region.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay on Friday and was followed shortly by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The tremors wreaked havoc, collapsing buildings, destroying bridges, and buckling roads, leaving widespread destruction, particularly in Mandalay, home to over 1.7 million people, as well as parts of Thailand.


With unreliable communication networks, the full scale of the disaster remains uncertain in the isolated, military-ruled state, and the death toll is expected to rise significantly.

In an unusually rare move, Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing called for international aid on Friday, signalling the severity of the crisis. This marks a significant shift, as previous military governments have typically rejected foreign assistance, even after major natural disasters.

Myanmar’s ongoing recovery is further complicated by the four years of civil war triggered by the military coup in 2021.

Meanwhile, India has committed to sending over 15 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar following a series of powerful earthquakes. The aid, which includes tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and essential medicines, were delivered aboard an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft.