The death toll for the devastating Myanmar earthquake soared to more than 1,600 Saturday as rescuers frantically scoured the rubble for survivors.

The death toll for the devastating Myanmar earthquake soared to more than 1,600 Saturday as rescuers frantically scoured the rubble for survivors.

Military officials said 1,644 bodies have been pulled from the destruction of hundreds of buildings that came crashing down during the 7.7 magnitude quake the day before — but warn that the recovery mission is far from over.

The new total is a sharp rise from the 1,002 total that was announced just hours earlier.

At least another 139 are still missing, and the total number of injured stands at 3,408.

"Although a full picture of the damage is still emerging, most of us have never seen such destruction," said Haider Yaqub, Myanmar country director for the NGO Plan International, from Yangon.

The full extent of the devastation is still unclear as rescue teams struggle to clear the rubble, a mission that has been further hindered by other nation's inabilities to fly into the country's damaged airports.

The air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport, which controls all traffic in the capital of Myanmar, was severed from its base during the quake.

It's not clear if there were any injuries reported in the collapse, but the tower would have been staffed when the ground suddenly began shaking Friday.

Relief from other countries has managed to provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar, with the UN allocating $5 million to kickstart relief efforts.

China said it has sent more than 135 rescue personnel and experts along with supplies like medical kits and generators, and pledged around $14 million in emergency aid. Hong Kong sent a 51-member team to Myanmar.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry said it had flown in 120 rescuers, including a medical team, and supplies.