Despair of rescue workers and engineers.
Credit: somkanae sawatdinak – Shutterstock.
Rescue operations passed their second night in Myanmar following Friday’s catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which has so far claimed at least 1,644 lives and injured over 3,408, according to the country’s ruling government.
The shallow quake, followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, reduced countless buildings, including skyscrapers, to rubble, trapping thousands and missing across central Myanmar, with Mandalay being one of the hardest-hit cities. Amidst all the chaos, a slither of hope came when 30-year-old woman Phyu Lay Khaing was pulled alive from the wreckage of the once 10-storey Sky Villa Condominium in Mandalay after more than 30 hours. Rescued by exhausted workers using little more than their hands, she was reunited with her husband, Ye Aung, before being rushed to hospital.
Fears death toll will rise in Earthquake ravaged Myanmar
However, fears persist that another 90 who remain buried beneath the 12-storey building’s debris may not be extracted alive. Across affected regions, teams equipped with drones, sniffer dogs, and, in many cases, heavy machinery, are racing against time to locate survivors.
The disaster’s shock waves were felt beyond Myanmar’s borders. In Bangkok, Thailand, a 30-storey building under construction collapsed, killing at least 10 and leaving dozens missing. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt vowed to continue the search, stating, ‘We believe there are still survivors,’ as heavy equipment cleared the site near the bustling Chatuchak market.
West pledges low level earthquake aid to Myanmar
Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, issued an unprecedented call for international aid, declaring a state of emergency across six regions. The isolated regime, already struggling with continued civil conflict since its 2021 coup, welcomed assistance from allies Russia and China, whose rescue teams and supplies arrived on Saturday. India has dispatched search-and-rescue and medical units, while Malaysia pledged 50 personnel to join efforts on Sunday. The UK has promised £10m, the EU €2.5m, and the UN allocated $5m to kickstart relief, with the World Health Organisation preparing to address dire medical shortages. The US, under President Trump, has signalled some intent to send aid, although the details are yet to be clarified with the current shakeup at USAID.
Emergency response teams are being hampered by damaged infrastructure, communication blackouts, and the junta’s ongoing airstrikes against rebel-held areas, including near the epicentre in Sagaing. Major bridges, roads, hospitals, and cultural sites lie in ruins. The full scope of the tragedy may take weeks to assess, leaving this disaster going down as one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s history.
