Then, at 12:51 local time (06:21 GMT), a deadly earthquake struck. Three mosques collapsed, including the biggest one, Myoma, killing almost everyone inside. Hundreds of kilometres away, the former imam of Myoma mosque,

Myanmar on Monday declared seven days of national mourning over a powerful earthquake of a 7.7-magnitude that struck central Myanmar on Friday. The national flag will be flown at half-staff as part of the mourning, according to the state-run MRTV.

Myanmar's ruling junta declared a week of national mourning for the devastating earthquake that has killed over 1,700 people and injured thousands. The rescue efforts are winding down in Mandalay, and international aid is arriving to assist the crisis-stricken country,