Myanmar state media reported on April 6 that the death toll has now reached 3,471, with 4,671 injured and 214 still missing.
The 7.7 earthquake occurred on March 28, collapsing many structures, cutting off power, and destroying bridges and roads across the country. The city of Sagaing, near the center of the earthquake, and Mandalay - Myanmar's second largest city with more than 1.7 million people - suffered the most damage.
In the situation of serious collapsed or cracked houses, many Mandalay residents were forced to sleep outdoors in makeshift tents. However, heavy rain and strong winds on the evening of April 5 made these shelters more vulnerable, forcing people to choose between being outdoors in harsh conditions or entering works with the potential risk of collapse.
People are trying to rebuild their lives, UN relief chief Tom Fletcher shared in a video filmed in Mandalay, posted on X on April 6. He said people needed food, drinking water and electricity, and called for more tents.
Relief experts warn that rainy and hot weather conditions can increase the risk of outbreak in outdoor shelters, where people are living in crowds and lack basic hygiene conditions.
In addition, the continued aftershocks have also made people more worried. The U.S. Geological Survey said a 4.7 Category earthquake occurred just south of Mandalay on the evening of April 4, nearly a week after the primary earthquake.
