By Abiola Olawale
Myanmar’s military leadership has declared a week of national mourning starting Monday, as the death toll from a devastating earthquake surpassed 2,000, marking one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s recent history.
It was gathered that the powerful 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck central Myanmar on Friday, has left a trail of destruction, flattening buildings, buckling roads, and shattering communities already strained by years of civil conflict.
According to reports, the death toll reached 2,065, with more than 3,900 reportedly injured and over 270 still missing as rescue efforts continued into their fourth day.
The military junta announced that flags would fly at half-mast until April 6, calling for national unity “in sympathy for the loss of life and damages.”
The announcement came as the tempo and urgency of rescue efforts wound down in Mandalay, one of the worst-affected cities and the country’s second-largest, with more than 1.7 million inhabitants.
