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Myanmar Earthquake: Search for Survivors Intensifies as UN Warns of Medical Supply Crisis
Continuing live updates on the aftermath of the devastating Myanmar earthquake, which has tragically claimed at least 1,600 lives and left over 3,400 individuals injured. The search and rescue operation is racing against time, with at least 139 people still unaccounted for. The United Nations cautions that a critical medical supply shortage is severely hindering rescue efforts.
Entering its third day, the pursuit to locate survivors is escalating after the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, impacting also neighbouring Thailand, where at least 17 fatalities have been reported in Bangkok.
The initial tremor occurred near Mandalay, a major city in central Myanmar, early Friday afternoon, swiftly followed by a significant 6.7-magnitude aftershock.
These seismic events caused widespread damage, collapsing structures, destroying bridges, and breaking apart roads in Mandalay, the nation’s second-largest city with over 1.7 million residents.
The UN has cautioned that rescue operations are severely impeded by impassable roads and ruined buildings. They further stated that the scarcity of medical provisions is substantially complicating the earthquake response.
Hospitals in central and northwestern Myanmar areas, including Mandalay and Sagaing, are struggling to manage the surge of casualties, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“A critical deficit of medical resources is hindering response initiatives, encompassing essential items like trauma kits, blood supplies, anaesthetics, mobility aids, vital medications, and shelters for healthcare providers,” OCHA conveyed in a statement released on Saturday.
Marcoluigi Corsi, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Myanmar, which has been afflicted by conflict, highlighted that the nation was already “grappling with a worrying humanitarian situation, primarily caused by ongoing clashes and repeated natural disasters.”
“During this crucial period, the people of Myanmar are in dire need of unwavering assistance from the global community,” he emphasized.
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Understanding the Myanmar and Thailand Earthquake
Earthquakes are triggered by the movement of massive rock plates, known as tectonic plates, forming Earth’s crust. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the recent Myanmar earthquake was a result of “strike-slip faulting” between the India and Eurasia plates. This means these plates moved horizontally past each other.
Bill McGuire, emeritus professor at University College London, specializing in geophysical and climate hazards, explained, “The earthquake occurred along the Sagaing fault, the boundary between the Indian plate to the west and the Eurasian plate to the east. The Indian plate is shifting northward relative to the Eurasian plate along this fault line.”
The USGS indicates that this region has a history of substantial strike-slip earthquakes. Since 1900, six earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater have occurred within approximately 250km of the recent seismic event.
McGuire further commented, “This earthquake is significant by any measure. Its impact is amplified because it was shallow, originating only about 10km beneath the surface. A quake at a depth of 100km would have had considerably less impact, highlighting the critical role of depth alongside magnitude.”
Aftershocks Continue Near Mandalay
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported a 5.1 magnitude aftershock striking 28km (17.4 miles) northwest of Mandalay, specifically in the Mattara township. This is the latest in a series of aftershocks following Friday’s powerful earthquake.
Friday’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, caused widespread destruction to buildings and infrastructure, including the city’s airport.
In Mandalay, approximately 1.5 million residents have spent the past two nights outdoors. Many are homeless due to the earthquake, while others fear further building collapses from ongoing aftershocks.
Residents in Mandalay reported screams as the 5.1 magnitude aftershock struck at 15:38 local time (09:08 GMT) on Sunday. The Associated Press reported no immediate indications of additional damage.
Bangkok Building Collapse: Rescue Teams Race Against Time
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake centered in Myanmar caused tremors felt across Thailand, China, and India.
In Thailand, the impact of the earthquake extended to the greater Bangkok metropolitan area, home to approximately 17 million individuals, and other regions nationwide.
While northern Thailand experienced property damage, casualties were unfortunately concentrated in Bangkok, situated over 1,000km (621 miles) from the earthquake’s epicentre.
Emergency responders in the Thai capital are working tirelessly to rescue individuals trapped following the collapse of a 30-story skyscraper under construction near the Chatuchak market after Friday’s earthquake. At least 12 deaths are confirmed at the collapsed high-rise site, with dozens reported injured.
At the site of the collapsed state audit office building, construction crews are employing heavy machinery, including mechanical diggers, to locate potential survivors beneath the wreckage.
“Accessing the debris remains incredibly challenging due to the 30 floors of collapsed building material,” Bangkok’s deputy governor Thawida Kamolvej informed BBC News.
“We are still searching for 79 missing individuals. I maintain confidence in my team’s capabilities and we will continue our 24/7 operation with additional personnel arriving. Finding them is my priority,” she affirmed.
Myanmar Earthquake: Survivor Search Intensifies Amid Medical Supply Concerns
Welcome back to our ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the devastating Myanmar earthquake. The catastrophe has resulted in a tragic death toll of at least 1,600, with over 3,400 injured, and 139 still missing.
Rescue operations are now in their third day, with efforts to locate survivors gaining momentum following the destructive 7.7 magnitude earthquake. The quake impacted not only Myanmar but also neighbouring Thailand, where Bangkok alone has reported at least 17 deaths.
The earthquake’s primary shock originated near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay on Friday early afternoon, promptly succeeded by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.
The seismic activity triggered building collapses, bridge failures and road buckling, resulting in widespread destruction throughout Mandalay, a city of over 1.7 million and Myanmar’s second largest urban center.
The United Nations has issued warnings indicating that rescue operations are being significantly hampered by impassable roadways and demolished structures. Moreover, the UN emphasizes that the deficiency in medical resources is substantially complicating the earthquake response efforts.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), hospitals across central and northwestern Myanmar regions, including Mandalay and Sagaing, are facing immense strain managing the high number of casualties.
“A critical shortage of essential medical provisions is impeding our ability to respond effectively, including vital supplies such as trauma kits, blood for transfusions, anaesthetics for surgeries, assistive devices for the injured, crucial medications and temporary shelters for medical staff,” OCHA stated in their Saturday press release.
Marcoluigi Corsi, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Myanmar, a nation already struggling with conflict, commented, “Myanmar has already been suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict and recurring natural calamities.”
“During this critical juncture, the people of Myanmar are in urgent need of sustained support from the international community,” he concluded.