The official death toll from the 7.7 magnitude powerful earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday has reached 1700, according to the country’s military leaders. Rescue efforts continue to find survivors following the earthquake, which hit near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.

The rescue teams, working under difficult conditions with downed power lines and damaged infrastructure, are facing significant challenges as the military regime keeps a tight grip on information. The death toll is expected to rise, with preliminary estimates from the US Geological Survey (USGS) suggesting that it could exceed 10,000.