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Death toll in Burma, Thailand earthquake rises to more than 1,600 victims

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The death toll from the devastating earthquake that rocked Burma and Thailand on Friday has risen sharply to more than 1,650 victims. 

The earthquake’s epicenter was in central Burma, where 1,644 have been confirmed dead with nearly 140 people still missing, the nation’s ruling military said Saturday.

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The 7.7 magnitude quake knocked down scores of buildings as well as destroyed bridges and highways in what was the deadliest natural disaster to hit the impoverished, war-torn country in years. Burma is also known as Myanmar. 

Survivors in Mandalay, Burma’s second-biggest city, dug with their bare hands on Friday in desperate attempts to save those still trapped, lacking heavy machinery and with authorities absent. Burma’s military rulers let in hundreds of foreign rescue personnel on Saturday.

Rescue personnel work at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Burma on March 29, 2025.  (REUTERS/Stringer)

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AMERICA’S MOST EXPENSIVE NATURAL DISASTERS IN RECENT DECADES

The quake struck during Friday prayers across the country, causing the collapse of at least 50 mosques across the country, killing nearly 300 people, the Yangon Khit Thit News Agency reported

An initial assessment by Burma’s opposition National Unity Government said at least 2,900 buildings, 30 roads and seven bridges had been damaged by the quake.

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The quake comes amid a raging civil war that has wrecked the economy and displaced millions. It makes movement around the country both difficult and dangerous, complicating relief efforts and raising fears that the death toll could still rise precipitously.

People drive on a motorbike past a collapsed building in Mandalay

People drive on a motorbike past a collapsed building in Mandalay on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Burma. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Airports too have been damaged, further hindering rescue efforts. For instance, satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC show the earthquake toppled the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport as if sheered from its base, according to The Associated Press.

The country sits on the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south fault that separates the India plate and the Sunda plate.

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WATCH: First responders clear leveled apartment building in Thailand after powerful earthquake

IS THE EAST COAST ON THE BRINK OF A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE — AND ARE WE PREPARED?

President Donald Trump said the earthquake was «terrible» on Friday and assured that the United States would assist in relief efforts.

«It’s a real bad one, and we will be helping. We’ve already spoken with the country,» Trump said.

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In neighboring Thailand, where the quake shook buildings and brought down a skyscraper under construction in the capital Bangkok, at least ten people were killed.

Dramatic footage captured in Bangkok midday Friday showed a 33-story apartment building that was under construction falling down, scattering dust and debris throughout the city’s streets. Bangkok city authorities said earlier Friday that 10 people were killed, 16 were injured. 

Water from a separate high-rise building with rooftop pools in Bangkok spilled over the side as they shook and debris fell from many buildings.

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Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the country has now «returned to normalcy.»

Aftershocks were reportedly felt in India and China. 

WATCH: Skyscraper in Bangkok collapses after 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Burma, Thailand

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Photos and video from Burma showed two hard-hit cities with extensive damage. 

In Mandalay, Burma’s second-largest city and close to the epicenter, the earthquake damaged part of the former royal palace and buildings, according to videos and photos released on Facebook social media.

In the Sagaing region just southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and some sections of the highway connecting Mandalay and the city of Yangon were also damaged.

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In the capital Naypyitaw, the quake damaged religious shrines, sending parts toppling to the ground and some homes.

 Christina Shaw, Greg Norman, Bradford Betz Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 


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Pope Leo urges war leaders to halt fighting after deadly strike on school sparks outrage

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Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in the war involving Iran, delivering his strongest remarks yet on the conflict and urging leaders responsible for the fighting to halt violence after deadly strikes that hit schools and civilian areas.

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The Associated Press reported the pope made the remarks at the end of his Sunday noon blessing at the Vatican, where he appealed to leaders involved in the conflict to halt the fighting and pursue dialogue instead of continued military escalation.

«On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict,» Leo said. «Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for.»

Leo did not cite the U.S. or Israel by name, though he appeared to reference an attack in the opening days of the war that struck a school in Iran and killed more than 165 people, many of them children.

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IRAN WAR, 11 DAYS IN: US CONTROLS SKIES, OIL SURGES AND THE REGION BRACES FOR WHAT’S NEXT

Pope Leo XIV called Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in the war involving Iran. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. officials said the strike may have been based on outdated intelligence, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

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The pope said he was particularly close to the families of victims killed in attacks that have struck schools, hospitals and residential areas during the conflict.

He also expressed concern about the impact of the fighting in Lebanon, where aid groups have warned the escalating conflict could trigger a humanitarian crisis.

IRAN VOWS ‘DECISIVE’ SELF DEFENSE AT UN AFTER TRUMP KILLS SUPREME LEADER IN OPERATION EPIC FURY

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Minab school strike

This picture obtained from Iran’s ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, on Feb. 28, 2026. (Ali Najafi/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Christian communities in southern Lebanon are of particular concern to the Vatican, as they have long been seen as an important presence for Christians across a largely Muslim region.

For much of the two weeks since the conflict began, Leo has limited his public comments to broader appeals for peace and dialogue while avoiding direct references to the U.S. or Israel – a stance consistent with the Vatican’s longstanding tradition of diplomatic neutrality.

Some Catholic leaders, however, have taken a more direct stance on the conflict.

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RED CROSS SHARES AUDIO OF IRANIAN CIVILIAN EXPLAINING SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN TEHRAN: ‘NO RESPITE’

Pope Leo XIV arriving for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV arrives to hold his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican on March 4, 2026. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo)

Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, described the war as morally unjustifiable, while Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich criticized the White House for sharing social media posts about the war that included video game-style imagery.

Meanwhile, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin rejected Washington’s characterization of the fighting as a «preventive war,» but said the Holy See continues to keep lines of communication open with all sides.

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«The Holy See speaks with everyone,» Parolin said. «When necessary we speak also with the Americans, with the Israelis and show them what to us are the solutions.»

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pentagon identifies 6 US airmen killed in refueling tanker crash in Iraq after midair collision

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The Pentagon has identified six U.S. service members who were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.

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The incident, which occurred on Thursday, took place in «friendly» airspace during an unspecified incident involving another aircraft. While the other plane landed safely, the KC-135 crashed. Military officials said the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.

The airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, according to U.S. government and state officials.

Those killed were Maj. John «Alex» Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28. 

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3 US WARPLANES SHOT DOWN BY KUWAITI AIR DEFENSES, PILOTS BAIL OUT IN FRIENDLY FIRE INCIDENT, CENTCOM SAYS

Maj. John ‘Alex’ Klinner

Maj. John «Alex» Klinner, 33, leaves behind three small children — 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, confirmed.

A graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, Klinner had recently moved with his family into a new home, according to his wife, Libby Klinner.

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The Pentagon identified six U.S. Air Force airmen killed when their aircraft crashed in western Iraq, as investigators work to determine the cause of the deadly incident. (Mary Remmes via AP)

«It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot,» Harrill said.

An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also known for helping others. Harrill recalled that when he last saw him in January during a family wedding, Klinner helped shovel Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow.

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FORMER TOPGUN PILOT DECLARES IRAN MILITARY ‘OVER WITH’ AMID US AIR SUPERIORITY, BUT WARNS OF ANOTHER DANGER

«Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,» Harrill said. «He was literally one of the most kind, giving people.»

Libby Klinner said her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father.

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«They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,» she wrote in a post. «They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.»

OPERATION EPIC FURY SURVIVES SENATE CHALLENGE AS REPUBLICANS CLOSE RANKS BEHIND TRUMP

Klinner was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, though Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said he was stationed in Birmingham.

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Capt. Ariana Savino

Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was also assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base.

Selfie-style photo of Captain Savino.

The deaths of six U.S. Air Force airmen in an aircraft crash in Iraq bring the number of U.S. troops killed in connection with the Iran conflict to 13. (Reuters)

Savino was among the crew members aboard the KC-135 refueling aircraft when it crashed in western Iraq.

Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt

Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, was the third member of the MacDill-based crew killed in the crash.

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Selfie of Technical Sergeant Pruitt.

Six American airmen died in a U.S. Air Force aircraft crash in western Iraq, officials said, bringing the number of U.S. troops killed in the conflict with Iran to 13. (Reuters)

Pruitt served with the 6th Air Refueling Wing and was deployed as part of the mission when the aircraft went down.

Capt. Seth Koval

Capt. Seth Koval, 38, served as a KC-135R Stratotanker instructor pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.

Headshot of Captain Koval.

The U.S. military released the names of six Air Force airmen killed in a crash in western Iraq as the investigation into the incident continues. (United States Air Force)

The Ohio National Guard said Koval was an aircraft commander with 19 years of service. While the Ohio National Guard listed his home in Stoutsville, Ohio, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Mooresville, Indiana.

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US STRIKES MORE THAN 1,700 TARGETS IN IRAN DURING FIRST 72 HOURS OF OPERATION EPIC FURY

A graduate of Purdue University, Koval first enlisted in 2006 as a machinist with the Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing before transferring to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017. He earned his commission in 2018 and completed instructor pilot upgrade in 2024. Over the course of his career, Koval logged 2,076 total flight hours, including 443 combat hours.

Capt. Curtis Angst

Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, served as a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.

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While the Ohio National Guard listed his home as Columbus, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Wilmington, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in aerospace engineering, Angst initially enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015 as a vehicle maintenance technician with the 123rd Air Control Squadron.

Photo of Captain Angst.

Six airmen, including a squadron operations chief and multiple captains, died in a U.S. Air Force aircraft crash in western Iraq, the Pentagon said. (United States Air Force)

He earned his commission in 2021, completed undergraduate pilot training in 2023, and qualified as a KC-135R pilot in April 2024. During his career, Angst logged 880 total flight hours, including 67 combat hours.

Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons

Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, served as a KC-135R boom operator with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron. He was responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to receiver aircraft during missions.

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Headshot photo of Technical Sergeant Simmons.

Among those killed in the Iraq crash were a major overseeing flight training and a boom operator remembered for his «million-dollar smile.» (United States Air Force)

4 US SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN REFUELING AIRCRAFT CRASH IN IRAQ

Simmons entered the Air Force in 2017 and initially served in the security forces before transitioning to aviation in 2022. He became a mobility force aviator in 2023 and reached the rank of technical sergeant on May 1, 2023. During his career, Simmons logged 779 total flight hours, including 230.4 combat hours.

Simmons’ family told WCMH-TV in Columbus they were devastated by the loss.

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«Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,» they said.

Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, Ohio adjutant general, said the state is mourning the loss of the three «remarkable» Ohio airmen.

«Today we mourn the loss of three remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard,» Woodruff said.

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U.S. Central Command said the aircraft crashed during a combat mission over western Iraq in «friendly» territory. Military officials stated that the incident involved an unspecified interaction with another aircraft that landed safely and that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

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The KC-135 Stratotanker refuels other aircraft in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The aircraft can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions.

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A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling tanker aircraft takes off from the Kadena Air Base, west of Okinawa, southern Japan, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force had 376 KC-135 aircraft last year, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. The aircraft has been in service for more than 60 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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INTERNACIONAL

Donald Trump y Keir Starmer dialogaron sobre la importancia de “reabrir” el estrecho de Ormuz

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Donald Trump y Keir Starmer dialogaron sobre la importancia de “reabrir” el estrecho de Ormuz (AP, Archivo)

El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump y el primer ministro británico Keir Starmer conversaron este domingo sobre la crítica situación en el estrecho de Ormuz, actualmente cerrado por Irán en respuesta a los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel.

Según un comunicado de Downing Street, ambos líderes destacaron la importancia de reabrir el paso marítimo para frenar el aumento de los precios globales y normalizar el comercio internacional.

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Los líderes discutieron la situación en desarrollo en Oriente Medio y la importancia de reabrir el estrecho de Ormuz para acabar con las perturbaciones en el transporte marítimo mundial, que están provocando un incremento de los costos en todo el mundo”, indicó un portavoz británico.

Starmer aprovechó la llamada para expresar sus condolencias por los militares estadounidenses fallecidos durante el conflicto, que comenzó el 28 de febrero. El Reino Unido, aunque no participa de manera activa en la ofensiva militar, ha permitido el uso de bases británicas por parte de las fuerzas estadounidenses y ha reforzado su presencia en la región con operaciones defensivas, incluyendo el derribo de drones iraníes.

El gobierno británico señaló que
El gobierno británico señaló que ambos mandatarios coincidieron en la necesidad de “poner fin a las perturbaciones en el transporte marítimo mundial, que están provocando un aumento de los costes en todo el mundo” (REUTERS/Christopher Furlong/Archivo)

Tras un ataque con dron a la base británica de Akrotiri en Chipre, Starmer ordenó el despliegue del destructor HMS Dragon, helicópteros y aviones antidrones al área.

La conversación entre Trump y Starmer se produce en un contexto de presión internacional para resolver el bloqueo del estrecho de Ormuz, por donde transita aproximadamente el 20% del petróleo mundial.

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El sábado, Trump instó públicamente a países como China, Francia, Japón, Corea del Sur y el propio Reino Unido a enviar buques de guerra para garantizar la seguridad de la vía y contrarrestar la amenaza iraní. El régimen de Teherán, según fuentes citadas por Downing Street, mantiene el cierre de Ormuz como medida de presión y en represalia por los ataques occidentales.

En paralelo, Trump ha reiterado en sus declaraciones que las fuerzas estadounidenses han causado importantes daños en las infraestructuras petroleras iraníes, en particular en la isla de Kharg.

Podemos golpearla unas cuantas veces más solo por diversión”, dijo Trump a NBC News, advirtiendo que no está dispuesto a negociar mientras continúe el bloqueo.

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Por su parte, el canciller iraní Abbas Araqchi rechazó cualquier posibilidad de diálogo con Washington, afirmando en CBS que “no hemos pedido negociaciones ni alto el fuego” y que Teherán está preparado para resistir mientras sea necesario.

El canciller iraní Abbas Araqchi
El canciller iraní Abbas Araqchi rechazó cualquier posibilidad de diálogo con Washington (REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Archivo)

“No es una guerra de supervivencia. Somos lo suficientemente estables y fuertes”, aseguró Araqchi.

La Casa Blanca, según reportó The Wall Street Journal, está cerca de anunciar un acuerdo con varios países para formar una coalición internacional destinada a escoltar barcos comerciales a través del estrecho. Las discusiones continúan sobre el calendario de inicio de estas operaciones, si se implementarán durante el conflicto o solo una vez que concluyan las hostilidades.

El secretario de Energía de Estados Unidos, Chris Wright, declaró que el gobierno espera que el conflicto termine en cuestión de semanas y que, con ello, se estabilicen los precios del petróleo.

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El Reino Unido, tras la llamada de Starmer con Trump, también coordinó su posición con Canadá para analizar el impacto del cierre de Ormuz en el comercio internacional y acordó mantener consultas bilaterales sobre la crisis.

El secretario de Energía de
El secretario de Energía de Estados Unidos, Chris Wright, declaró que el gobierno espera que el conflicto termine en cuestión de semanas (REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)

Mientras tanto, el bloqueo de Ormuz sigue alterando el mercado energético mundial y prolonga la incertidumbre respecto al suministro y los costos del petróleo, en un contexto en el que ningún actor internacional concreta aún una solución inmediata para la reapertura del paso estratégico.

(Con información de AFP, EFE y Europa Press)



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