Myanmar earthquake death toll tops 2,000 as devastation comes slowly into focus

Four days after a massive earthquake toppled buildings across Myanmar, isolated stories were still emerging Monday of people being pulled alive from the rubble. The confirmed death toll has continued to rise since the disaster, reaching at least 2,056 on Monday, according to the French news agency AFP citing the ruling military junta in the country.

The number of deaths is likely to rise further, as many parts of the country have been cut off. Getting help to those in need — and even assessing the extent of the destruction — has proved difficult in a country where key infrastructure was badly damaged and where a civil war had already been raging before the 7.7 magnitude quake struck on Friday. There have been significant aftershocks in its wake.

The occasional rescue may have helped to keep hope alive over the weekend, but they were the lucky ones. 

Building after building in Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, and beyond lie in ruins. Damaged roads, bridges and downed powerlines have made it impossible for rescue teams to reach many communities in the impoverished nation that’s been engulfed by war since the junta seized power in a coup four years ago.

Just hours after the big quake struck on Friday, there were reports the junta had carried out airstrikes in rebel-controlled areas that were impacted by the temblor, compounding the misery for survivors.

In neighboring Thailand, the quake was felt strongly in capital Bangkok, but only one large building completely collapsed. Thai authorities have ordered an investigation into that isolated collapse to determine whether it could have been due to inadequate building materials, design flaws or a failure in the inspections process.

The junta has maintained its strict controls on foreign journalists entering Myanmar but has appealed for international aid. As of Monday, China, Russia and India had responded with humanitarian supplies and rescue and recovery teams on the ground, along with other regional neighbors.

President Trump said the U.S. would be helping, but while America has long played a leading role in international disaster relief, Mr. Trump has gutted foreign aid spending in the first couple months of his second term, including a virtual abolishment of the USAID agency. 

Programs that would typically have been galvanized to rush in American help could be far less able to provide assistance in the wake of the disaster still unfolding in Myanmar.