The number of people killed in Myanmar following a powerful earthquake has risen to 1,644, and 3,408 others injured, according to local reports.

Local reports also said a further 139 people are missing across the country.

It comes as dramatic footage shows the moment a building several stories high collapsed into rubble in Mandalay.

Survivors in the city dug with their bare hands in a desperate attempt to find trapped people.

It struck at around 12.50pm local time (6.20am UK time) on Friday at a shallow depth of six miles.

The quake’s epicentre was about 10 miles from the second city of Mandalay.

There were also aftershocks, with one measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude 12 minutes later.

The King sent a message of condolence. “I know that the people of Myanmar continue to endure so much hardship and tragedy in your lives, and I have long admired your extraordinary resilience and spirit,” he said in a statement.

“At this most difficult and heartbreaking of times, my wife and I send our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have suffered the profound tragedy of losing their loved ones, their homes and their precious livelihoods.”

The first major disaster to suffer the brunt of Trump’s aid cuts

Dominic Waghorn

International affairs editor

@DominicWaghorn

This will be the first natural disaster to happen after President Donald Trump shut down America’s international aid agency with potentially devastating consequences.

The impact in the aftermath of this earthquake is likely to be severe. Trump’s decision to shut down the US Agency for International Development was already reported to have decimated US aid operations in Myanmar. Its global impact is hard to overstate. American aid had provided 40% of developmental aid worldwide.

Yesterday, Trump promised Myanmar aid for the earthquake. In reality, his administration has fired most of the people most experienced at organising that help and shut down the means to provide it.

The last of its staff were ironically only let go yesterday, even as the president was making lofty promises to help.

The US State Department says it has maintained a team of experts in the country. But former USAID officials say the system is now ‘in shambles’ without the wherewithal to conduct search and rescue or transfer aid.

Read the full story here.

China‘s President Xi Jinping has also sent his condolences to Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing after the earthquake, and, according to the Chinese embassy in Myanmar, they have spoken on the phone.

A Chinese rescue team arrived in Yangon, Myanmar’s former capital, early on Saturday while Russia and the US have also offered to provide humanitarian assistance and relief.

Neighbouring Thailand was also affected by the quake, leaving at least seven people dead, eight injured and 47 missing.

Buildings in five of Myanmar‘s cities and towns collapsed, along with a railway bridge and a road bridge on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, state media reported. A dam has also burst.

The control tower Naypyitaw, airport, which serves the capital city, has collapsed meaning runways cannot be used.

Recalling the moment they left their home in Mandalay, one resident said they “ran out of the house as everything started shaking”.

They said they “witnessed a five-storey building collapse in front of [their] eyes”, adding, “everyone in my town is out on the road and no one dares to go back inside buildings”.

The natural disaster – the largest earthquake in this region in nearly 80 years – comes as the country is in the grip of a civil war.

Search efforts continued on Saturday morning in Bangkok as the city’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, said people were believed to be alive in the wreckage at three construction sites, including one where a partially built high-rise collapsed.

Most of the city’s metro and light rail resumed normal operation on Saturday morning, according to their operators.

Major General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the military government, told MRTV that blood was in high demand in earthquake-hit areas, as he urged donors to contact hospitals as soon as possible.

United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said UN staff were working to gather information on the number of people impacted by the earthquake and the scope of the humanitarian needs.

Read more:
Bangkok felt like a city caught off guard
Eyewitnesses describe earthquake hitting Myanmar and Bangkok

The ruling military junta said a state of emergency has been declared in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region and northeastern Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, and Bago Region.

“The government has ordered a rapid investigation of the damage in these areas,” the junta added in a statement.

“We will carry out relief and relief operations promptly. We will also work to provide necessary disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.”

The Red Cross has said its attempts to reach Mandalay and Sagaing regions and the southern Shan state are made more challenging by downed power lines.

China will provide 100 million yuan (£10.63m) worth of aid to Myanmar, including tents, blankets, emergency medical kits, food and water.

The first batch is set to arrive on 31 March, according to the Chinese embassy’s Facebook page.

This will be the first natural disaster to happen after President Donald Trump shut down America’s international aid agency with potentially devastating consequences.

The impact in the aftermath of this earthquake is likely to be severe. Trump’s decision to shut down the US Agency for International Development was already reported to have decimated US aid operations in Myanmar. Its global impact is hard to overstate. American aid had provided 40% of developmental aid worldwide.

Yesterday, Trump promised Myanmar aid for the earthquake. In reality, his administration has fired most of the people most experienced at organising that help and shut down the means to provide it.

The last of its staff were ironically only let go yesterday even as the president was making lofty promises to help.

Latest updates on earthquake

The US State Department says it has maintained a team of experts in the country. But former USAID officials say the system is now ‘in shambles’ without the wherewithal to conduct search and rescue or transfer aid.

As they count the cost of this massive earthquake, the people of Myanmar will be hoping, though, for a silver lining, that the disaster may hasten the fall of their despised dictator.

The catastrophe comes at a very bad time for General Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a coup four years ago.

The Myanmar junta is losing a civil war against an array of opposition forces, ceding territory now largely kettled into the country’s big cities. And some of its worst damage has been done in its urban strongholds.

Read more:
More than 1,000 killed in Myanmar earthquake
Moment building collapses in Bangkok earthquake

The disaster is so bad that Hlaing has broken his government’s self-imposed isolation to appeal for help from the outside world. But the country’s inaccessibility will remain a huge obstacle to aid efforts.

Myanmar is a deeply superstitious country. The generals who have ruled it since the end of colonial rule have consulted astrologers and use talismanic objects and animals, including white elephants, to protect their grip on power.

But earthquakes are thought to portend great change in Myanmar and sometimes the fall of leaders. That in itself may accelerate the toppling of its hated junta.

It remains powerful, supplied by ally China with advanced weaponry. It has used fighter jets to wreak havoc and carnage on opponents and civilians as the civil war has intensified.

But its enemies are gaining strength too, improvising with drones and other tactics to maintain momentum against a regime that lost all legitimacy. They will be encouraged in the belief that this disaster will bring closer their day of victory.

JD Vance has told Denmark it has “not done a good job” with Greenland during a visit to the territory – as President Donald Trump repeated his call for the US to take over the island.

Vice President Vance, his wife Usha and other senior US officials arrived at an American military base in Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory that has been a part of Denmark for more than 600 years.

Follow latest: Key takeaways from Vance’s speech in Greenland

“Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Mr Vance said.

“You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people.

“We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic.”

Shortly before Mr Vance spoke from Greenland on Friday, Mr Trump continued his threats of taking over the territory, saying: “We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security.

“We have to have Greenland. It’s not a question of you think we can do without it – we can’t.”

Lars-Christian Brask, deputy speaker of the Danish parliament, told Sky News that Mr Vance was “not welcome” by Greenlanders on his visit.

“It’s a NATO country demanding a piece of another NATO country, which is highly unusual and there is a lack of respect,” he said.

The one-day visit to the US Space Force outpost at Pituffik – located on the northwest coast of the territory – has avoided violating potential diplomatic taboos of a state sending a delegation to another country, without an invitation.

The trip had been scaled back after locals were angered that the original itinerary was made without consulting them – particularly in light of Mr Trump’s repeated claims that the US should control Greenland.

Speaking to soldiers at the US base, Mr Vance claimed Denmark – and Europe by extension – has failed to protect the region.

He said: “This place, this base, this surrounding area, is less secure than it was 30-40 years ago, as some of our allies have not kept up…

“Europe (has) not kept pace… with military spending, and Denmark has not kept pace in devoting the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view to keep the people of Greenland safe from a lot of aggressive incursions from Russia, China, and other nations.”

Mr Vance said Mr Trump was “a president of peace”, adding: “We respect the self-determination of Greenlanders, we believe in the self-determination of the population of Greenland.”

Asked if plans have been drafted to use military force to take over Greenland, he indicated the White House planned to wait for the people of the territory to vote for self-determination before acting.

“What the president has said… is that we need to have more of a position in Greenland,” he added.

Read more:
Analysis: Vance felt the cold but had no warm words
Analysis: How Greenlanders view Trump’s threats
Why does Trump want to take over Greenland?
Russia and America’s Arctic plans another challenge for Europe

Greenland is the world’s largest island, with a population of 57,000, and is also a founding member of NATO.

Straddling the Arctic circle between the US, Russia and Europe, the island offers a unique geopolitical advantage that America has eyed for more than 150 years.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was not surprised the US wants control of Greenland given its long-time interest in the mineral-rich territory.

“It can look surprising only at first glance and it would be wrong to believe that this is some sort of extravagant talk by the current US administration,” Mr Putin said.