As of Jan. 1 (local time), five days after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, the death toll has increased to over 2,700.

On Nov. 1, residents are looking through the debris at the site where their house collapsed due to an earthquake in Myanmar. /Courtesy of AP

According to state-run China Central Television (CCTV), Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar's military government, reported that as of that day, 2,719 people had died and 4,521 had been injured due to the recent earthquake. The number of missing persons is 441. Hlaing noted, "The death toll could exceed 3,000."

However, the number of unrecorded casualties and missing persons is estimated to be even higher. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stated that based on simulation results, the probability of total deaths from the earthquake exceeding 10,000 is 71%.

In response, international relief organizations have declared the earthquake a maximum level emergency and urged for urgent assistance. The Myanmar military government has also unusually requested active support from the international community, and countries such as India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia have sent relief supplies and personnel.