France, March 30 -- International aid efforts are swiftly mobilising to support Myanmar in the aftermath of Friday's catastrophic earthquake which has claimed over 1,600 lives.

Following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar near the city of Mandalay on Friday, a global response to assist the affected populations in the region has been deployed as at least 1,644 people have been reported killed and more than 3,400 injured.

The destruction to infrastructure - including bridges, roads, hospitals, and communication networks - has also been widespread.

At the weekend, the European Union swiftly responded to Myanmar's appeal for international assistance by allocating €2.5 million in immediate humanitarian ...