The number of fatalities from the destructive 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit central Myanmar increased to more than 2,000, while around 4,000 were wounded and about 270 remain missing based on official reports.The earthquake, which struck near Mandalay, has caused devastating damage, with several villages reduced to rubble and survivors struggling to cope.

Rescue missions continue, under the coordination of Myanmar's Department of Fire Services. Rescue work is, however, being constrained by damaged infrastructure, civil instability, and limited resources. The disaster is aggravated by the fact that critical buildings have been damaged, including religious structures and housing estates. Entire neighborhoods in Mandalay have been razed to the ground, and individuals are forced to stay in the streets in fear of aftershocks and loss of shelter.

The impact of the earthquake was not only felt in Myanmar, but also in neighboring nations such as China and Thailand. In Thailand's capital, Bangkok, 13 people died after a partially constructed building collapsed, with 74 others remaining unaccounted for. Dogs, drones, and thermal imaging cameras are being used by rescue teams in Bangkok to search for survivors.

The international community is rallying with aid.Three tons of medical supplies have been sent by the World Health Organization to the disaster-hit areas. China has pledged $13.7 million worth of aid and sent its rescue teams, and the European Union has contributed €2.5 million. India has also contributed by sending ships with medicines and sending a team to establish a mobile hospital in Mandalay.

Apart from a few places in western and eastern India, IMD predicts above-normal maximum temperatures in most areas during this April.