Aftershocks rattle Myanmar as rescue operations continue

Myanmar’s ruling junta says that about 1,700 people were confirmed dead so far, about 3,400 injured and around 300 more missing; anti-junta fighters declare a two-week partial ceasefire in quake-affected regions.

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Residents scoured collapsed buildings on Sunday, searching for survivors as aftershocks rattled the devastated city of Mandalay, two days after a massive earthquake killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar.

The initial 7.7 magnitude quake struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.

The tremors collapsed buildings, downed bridges and buckled roads, with most destruction seen in the city of more than 1.7 million people.

Teashop owner Win Lwin picked his way through the remains of a collapsed restaurant on a main road in his neighbourhood early on Sunday, tossing bricks aside one by one.

“About seven people died here” when the quake struck, he told reporters.

“I’m looking for more bodies but I know there cannot be any survivors.”

About an hour later, a small aftershock struck, sending people scurrying out of a hotel for safety, following a similar tremor felt late on Saturday evening.

And around 8:00 pm (0130 GMT), another aftershock — at 5.1-magnitude according to the US Geological Survey — sent people into the streets in alarm once again, temporarily halting rescue work.