Myanmar rescuers race against time as experts fear deaths could reach 10,000 | DW News

Rescue efforts are continuing in Myanmar, two days after the country was hit by a powerful earthquake.

Over 1,700 people are believed to have died with the modelling by the US Geological Survey predicting that the death toll could reach as many as 10,000.

The 7.7 quake struck Myanmar when it was already struggling with a massive humanitarian crisis amid a four year civil war.

The country's military junta, which no longer controls much of the country, has asked for help from abroad but also kept up its attacks on rebel groups.

Many people in the worst-hit areas say they have been forced to dig out the trapped with their bare hands, with aid and rescue workers scarce.

Michael Dunford, the UN World Food Programme Country Director for Myanmar, joined DW from Naypitaw to discuss what's making the rescue efforts so difficult.

DW also spoke to Southeast Asia expert Htet Thiha Zaw, from the University of British Columbia, on how the military junta was seeking to exploit the quake for its own ends.

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