Torrential rains compound misery in Myanmar after deadly quake

Torrential rains have swept through earthquake-devastated regions of Myanmar, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. The death toll from the massive 7.7 magnitude quake that struck on March 28 has now climbed to at least 3,471.

In Mandalay — one of the hardest-hit cities and close to the quake’s epicenter — aid workers reported that strong winds and overnight rains battered makeshift shelters, leaving many survivors soaked and vulnerable. Forecasts predict more rain later in the day, along with sweltering temperatures reaching up to 37°C (98°F).

“This weather is very extreme,” said Tun Tun, a United Nations Development Programme specialist, in an interview with AFP.

Humanitarian groups have raised alarm over the dangerous combination of heat, flooding, and unsanitary conditions, warning that disease outbreaks such as cholera could spread rapidly among displaced families camping in the open without proper shelter or hygiene facilities.

The earthquake has severely impacted six regions and states across the country, including the capital, Naypyidaw, leaving hundreds of thousands in urgent need of aid.