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Myanmar Earthquake: Rescuers Extract More Survivors Amid Rising Death Toll
Mandalay, Myanmar – Rescue teams have successfully extricated four additional individuals from the debris nearly 60 hours after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated Myanmar on Friday. The disaster has claimed at least 1,700 lives across the southeast Asian nation. Search and rescue operations intensify as hundreds remain unaccounted for in both Myanmar and neighboring Thailand following widespread structural damage and building collapses.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts in Myanmar and Thailand
Survivors Found in Sagaing Region
The Myanmar fire service reported that the survivors were recovered from the wreckage of a school building in the northern Sagaing region. Tragically, the body of another victim was also retrieved from the same location. Efforts are concentrated on locating those still missing in the aftermath of the powerful seismic event.
Bangkok Building Collapse Death Toll Rises
In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, the death toll has climbed to 18. Seventy-six workers remain missing following the collapse of a high-rise construction site in the city. Rescue teams are working against the clock to find any remaining survivors in the rubble.
Earthquake Details and Aftermath
Seismic Activity Near Mandalay
Friday’s earthquake, originating near Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, along the Sagaing fault, sent tremors across multiple countries. While rescue operations have been active since Friday and international aid is beginning to reach Myanmar, access to the most severely affected areas has been hampered. This has compelled local residents to resort to manual digging in their efforts to unearth survivors.
Nay Pyi Taw Rescue
On Saturday night, a remarkable rescue took place in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where an elderly woman was saved after enduring 36 hours trapped beneath the debris of a hospital. Footage depicted emergency responders carefully carrying her on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
Further Rescues and Seismic Data
Mandalay Apartment Block Rescues
Twenty-nine individuals were also rescued from a collapsed apartment complex in Mandalay, according to the local fire authority on Sunday.
Earthquake Magnitude and Aftershocks
The initial earthquake struck at approximately 12:50 local time (06:20 GMT) on Friday, originating at a shallow depth of just 10km (6.2 miles). This shallow depth intensified its impact at ground level compared to deeper earthquakes. A subsequent 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurred 12 minutes later, with its epicenter located 18km (11 miles) south of Sagaing, the regional capital near Mandalay. Aftershocks have persisted since, with a magnitude-5.1 tremor recorded northwest of Mandalay on Sunday.
Bangkok Tower Collapse and Investigation
Impact in Bangkok
In Bangkok, the effects of the shaking were amplified by the soft soil conditions, leading to the collapse of an unfinished tower block. Tragically, numerous workers were buried in the debris.
Signs of Life and Structural Concerns
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul revealed on Sunday that rescuers had detected faint signs of life beneath the rubble at the Bangkok collapse site. However, he cautioned that these signs were weak. Thailand’s Industry Minister Akanat Promphan informed the media on Sunday that “anomalies” have been identified in the steel used in the building’s construction, and samples are undergoing testing to determine if substandard materials contributed to the disaster.
Families Await News
Families of the missing construction workers in Bangkok are anxiously awaiting updates as rescue efforts continue. One woman, whose husband was working at the tower during the collapse, conveyed her determination to remain at the site “for as long as it takes” for news of his fate.
International Aid Arrives in Myanmar
Global Rescue Teams Deployed
International rescue teams are joining the disaster relief effort, with multiple nations dispatching assistance to Myanmar. Confirmed support includes:
- China: An 82-person strong rescue team.
- Hong Kong: A 51-member team arrived on Sunday.
- India: An aid flight carrying a rescue team and vital emergency supplies.
- Malaysia: The Foreign Ministry pledged a 50-person team to support disaster relief operations.
- Additional Support: Rescue teams are also being sent from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ireland, South Korea, and New Zealand.
- United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary David Lammy pledged £10 million in aid to assist “those most in need.”
Conflict and Humanitarian Concerns
Ongoing Civil Conflict in Myanmar
Amid the earthquake crisis, Myanmar’s ruling military junta has reportedly continued bombings in regions affected by the ongoing civil war. The United Nations has condemned these attacks as “completely outrageous and unacceptable.”
Rebel Groups Report Bombings
Pro-democracy rebel groups, engaged in fighting to remove the military regime from power, have reported aerial bombings in the Chaung-U township within the Sagaing region. The military regime, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has lost control over significant portions of the country, with various areas now under the control of rebel factions.
Ceasefire and Monsoon Season
The National Unity Government, representing the ousted civilian administration, announced that its armed forces would implement a two-week pause in “offensive military operations, except for defensive actions” in earthquake-affected areas, beginning Sunday.
Concerns are mounting that the people of Myanmar may face further displacement with the impending monsoon season. Lauren Ellery of the International Rescue Committee, speaking to BBC Breakfast, highlighted the “severe flooding which damaged homes and sanitation facilities” experienced last year and emphasized the approaching monsoon season in May, with rains commencing in April.