Earthquake Muslims react near the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay on March 31, 2025, three days after the deadly Myanmar earthquake. Hopes were fading of finding more survivors in the rubble of Mandalay, where some residents spent a third night sleeping in the open after a massive earthquake killed at least 2,000 people in Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. (Photo by Sai Aung MAIN / AFP) (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images) (SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
ByCox Media Group National Content Desk
The death toll from Friday’s earthquake is now at more than 2,000 people and it is expected to climb.
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Mandalay, Myanmar, on Friday, bringing down hundreds of buildings, including the control tower at the Naypyitaw International Airport and warping roads.
Thousands were hurt and hundreds are still missing.
“The scale of deaths and injuries is not yet fully understood and the numbers are expected to increase,” the state-run agency said.
What is called the “golden” window to find victims alive under rubble is quickly coming to an end. Usually, within 72 hours of a quake, or about three days, the chance of survival being trapped is slim because of a lack of water.
About 270 monks were taking an exam at a monastery that collapsed with them inside. Seventy escaped, 50 were found dead and 150 are still not accounted for.
The search through the rubble is being conducted by hand because the country — which was in the midst of a civil war and is now suffering from damage to roads, damage to hospitals, fuel shortages and power outages — has few pieces of heavy machinery that could dig through the remnants of buildings brought down by the quake.
The World Health Organization said three hospitals in the country were destroyed and another 22 were damaged.
Earthquake Map showing major aftershocks in central Myanmar since Friday's 7.7-magnitude quake (Graphic by Nicholas SHEARMAN / AFP via Getty Images) (NICHOLAS SHEARMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The devastation was not limited to Myanmar. Eighteen people were killed in Bangkok, hundreds of miles away from the quake’s epicenter. The Royal Thai Police said 33 people were hurt and another 78 are missing.
Life-saving resources from North Carolina are heading to Southeast Asia this week.
Boone-based Samaritan's Purse said its DC-8 combi-jet was set to depart Greensboro, North Carolina, for Myanmar on Tuesday.
The organization is also preparing to send a crew from Vietnam and Cambodia field offices for an emergency field hospital.
“Families are grieving the loss of loved ones and many are left with nothing— sleeping outside in the elements as aftershocks continue,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse.
Graham added, “Please pray for all those affected and for our teams as they serve.”
Samaritan’s Purse said its volunteers will also airlift additional components of the large-scale field hospital, water filtration systems, emergency shelter material, flashlights, and hygiene kits.
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Earthquake A rescue worker walks past debris at a construction site after a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, following an earthquake. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake BANGKOK, THAILAND - MARCH 28: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'ROYAL THAI ARMY X ACCOUNT / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Royal Thai Army takes part in rescue operations following the collapse of the office of auditor general building after strong earthquake of 7.7 magnitude rocks Myanmar as tremors felt in Bangkok, Thailand on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Royal Thai Army X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Earthquake TOPSHOT - Damage is seen to part of the emergency department of a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar. A powerful earthquake hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on March 28, turning a major hospital in the Myanmar capital into a "mass casualty area" and trapping dozens of workers in an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok. (Photo by Sebastien BERGER / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BERGER/AFP via Getty Images) (SEBASTIEN BERGER/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A rescue worker looks at debris at a construction site after a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, following an earthquake. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A rescue worker looks at debris at a construction site after a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, following an earthquake. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A car is seen under a collapsed part of a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar. A powerful earthquake hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on March 28, turning a major hospital in the Myanmar capital into a "mass casualty area" and trapping dozens of workers in an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok. (Photo by Sebastien BERGER / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BERGER/AFP via Getty Images) (SEBASTIEN BERGER/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Emergency services crew survey the site of a collapsed building in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, following an earthquake. A massive earthquake on March 28 turned a major hospital in Myanmar's capital into a "mass casualty area", while at least three people were killed and dozens trapped in neighbouring Thailand when a skyscraper collapsed. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Traffic is seen near a construction site where a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake. A massive earthquake on March 28 turned a major hospital in Myanmar's capital into a "mass casualty area", while at least three people were killed and dozens trapped in neighbouring Thailand when a skyscraper collapsed. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake RUILI, CHINA - MARCH 28: An earthquake-damaged building is seen in the quake-affected area on March 28, 2025 in Ruili, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China. Strong tremors were felt in some cities in southwest China's Yunnan Province bordering Myanmar, after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at 2:20 p.m. on March 28. No casualties have been reported in Yunnan so far. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Earthquake BANGKOK, THAILAND - MARCH 28: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'ROYAL THAI ARMY X ACCOUNT / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Royal Thai Army takes part in rescue operations following the collapse of the office of auditor general building after strong earthquake of 7.7 magnitude rocks Myanmar as tremors felt in Bangkok, Thailand on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Royal Thai Army X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Earthquake Damage is seen to part of the emergency department of a hospital in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar. A powerful earthquake hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on March 28, turning a major hospital in the Myanmar capital into a "mass casualty area" and trapping dozens of workers in an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok. (Photo by Sebastien BERGER / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BERGER/AFP via Getty Images) (SEBASTIEN BERGER/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake BANGKOK, THAILAND - MARCH 28: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'ROYAL THAI ARMY X ACCOUNT / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Royal Thai Army takes part in rescue operations following the collapse of the office of auditor general building after strong earthquake of 7.7 magnitude rocks Myanmar as tremors felt in Bangkok, Thailand on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Royal Thai Army X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Earthquake Rescue workers stand near the debris of a construction site after a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, following an earthquake. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A motorcyclist rides past a damaged road in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. (Photo by Sai Aung MAIN / AFP) (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images) (SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake BANGKOK, THAILAND - MARCH 28: Debris is seen at the scene of a construction building collapse in the Chatuchak area on March 28, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar earlier today, causing strong tremors that were felt in Bangkok, where buildings swayed and hundreds of people evacuated onto the streets. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images) (Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Earthquake RUILI, CHINA - MARCH 28: Rescuers work at the site of the quake-affected area on March 28, 2025 in Ruili, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China. Strong tremors were felt in some cities in southwest China's Yunnan Province bordering Myanmar, after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at 2:20 p.m. on March 28. No casualties have been reported in Yunnan so far. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Earthquake BANGKOK, THAILAND - MARCH 28: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'ROYAL THAI ARMY X ACCOUNT / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Royal Thai Army evacuates a civilian as they take part in rescue operations following the collapse of the office of auditor general building after strong earthquake of 7.7 magnitude rocks Myanmar as tremors felt in Bangkok, Thailand on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Royal Thai Army X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Earthquake Rescue workers walk past the debris of a construction site after a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, following an earthquake. A powerful earthquake rocked central Myanmar on March 28, buckling roads in capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Emergency services are seen amid traffic near a construction site where a building collapsed in Bangkok on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake. A massive earthquake on March 28 turned a major hospital in Myanmar's capital into a "mass casualty area", while at least three people were killed and dozens trapped in neighbouring Thailand when a skyscraper collapsed. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) (LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
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