Myanmar resistance announces partial ceasefire to facilitate rescue efforts

Myanmar’s main resistance movement to the country’s military junta has announced a unilateral partial ceasefire in order to aid rescue efforts after a 7.7 earthquake struck the country on Friday.

The Shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the struggle against the ruling military junta which came to power in 2021, has said its armed wing, the People’s Defence Force (PDF) will cease offensive military operations from Sunday in areas affected by the earthquake.

The death toll in Myanmar from Friday’s magnitude 7.7 earthquake has risen to 1,644, the AFP news agency quoting the ruling military junta has said.

The quake rocked central Myanmar’s city of Mandalay around midday local time, causing extensive damage across a wide swath of one of the world’s poorest countries.

Authorities say 2,376 have been injured, and 30 others are missing.

The full extent of the death, injury and destruction was not immediately clear – particularly in Myanmar, which is embroiled in a civil war, and where information is tightly controlled.

“The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” the head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said as he announced on television the latest death toll.