The death toll from the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has reached 1,644, the country’s authorities said on Saturday, even as rescue workers raced against time in search of survivors in the ruins of apartments buildings, monasteries and mosques.

The 7.7-magnitude temblor, which struck just outside Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, on Friday afternoon, sent shock waves around Southeast Asia and even beyond.

Myanmar's military rulers let in hundreds of foreign rescue personnel on Saturday after an earthquake killed more than 1,600 people, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the impoverished, war-torn country in years. Friday's 7.7 magnitude quake, among the biggest to jolt the Southeast Asian nation in the last century, crippled airports, bridges and highways amid a civil war that has wrecked the economy and displaced millions.

The European Commission said on Wednesday that Europe should enhance stockpiling of critical equipment and encourage the public to maintain sufficient supplies for at least 72 hours in case of emergencies.

The Commission said in its new EU Preparedness Union Strategy that the bloc is preparing for risks such as natural disasters, cyberattacks and geopolitical crises including the possibility of armed aggression against EU countries.

Democrats representing Florida in Congress signed onto a letter urging the federal government to reconsider staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) ahead of hurricane season.

This comes amid reports that hundreds of jobs were slated to be slashed at the agency, totaling up to 10% of its workforce.

California wildfire victims are eligible for a one-time $770 payment so they can "quickly purchase" things they might need, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday.

The federal assistance, offered through a Federal Emergency Management Agency program, is designed to cover the cost of essential items like water, formula, gasoline and prescription drugs.

President Joe Biden announced Monday that federal aid is flowing to Los Angeles as California battles its worst wildfires in state history, with containment levels varying from 14% in Pacific Palisades to 100% in Ventura.

Biden and senior officials met Monday night to discuss the ongoing federal response to the Los Angeles County wildfires as Biden’s White House tenure draws to a close.

Some 30,000 Los Angeles residents — including celebrities — have been ordered to evacuate their homes as a wildfire engulfs the ritzy Pacific Palisades while another destructive blaze erupted hours later in nearby Altadena on Tuesday night.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency after touching down in the Pacific Palisades area and meeting with first responders fighting the blaze that has so far torched more than 2,900 acres (4.5 square miles), according to CalFire.

The Biden administration released a new report Friday showing that homelessness in America increased by 18% in 2024, partially attributing the spike to the huge influx of immigrants settling in the country.