Myanmar health facilities 'overwhelmed' as quake death toll exceeds 2,000

The fallout from Myanmar's earthquake has overwhelmed parts of the healthcare system, the World Health Organization has said, as the official death toll rose to more than 2,000, with many more missing.

- Rebecca Ratcliffe Bangkok Oliver Holmes

Rescue operations faced "significant obstacles including damaged roads, collapsed bridges, unstable communications and the complexities related to civil conflict", the WHO said in an update.

"The earthquake's devastation has overwhelmed healthcare facilities in the affected areas, which are struggling to manage the influx of injured individuals. There is an urgent need for trauma and surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anaesthetics, essential medicines, and mental health support," the UN health agency added.

Myanmar's junta said yesterday that Friday's earthquake had led to the deaths of 2,056 people. A spokesperson said 270 more people were still missing, with 3,900 injured.

Predictive modelling estimates by the US Geological Survey, which monitors seismic activity, suggest the death toll could eventually exceed 10,000.

The WHO said at least three hospitals had been destroyed and 22 partly damaged, while "the scale of deaths and injuries is not yet fully understood". The agency had earlier issued an urgent appeal for $8m (£6.2m) for emergency support.

Myanmar has declared a week of national mourning, with national flags to fly at half mast.