Yangon, Myanmar – Rescue efforts are underway after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The quake has claimed the lives of at least 1,644 people, with thousands more injured as teams of emergency workers rush to save survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.
In the midst of the chaos and destruction, there was a glimmer of hope as a woman, Phyu Lay Khaing, was rescued after being trapped for over 30 hours beneath the rubble of an apartment building in Mandalay. The rescue efforts have been relentless, with teams working tirelessly to free those still trapped.
The neighboring country of Thailand is also grappling with the aftermath of the earthquake, as rescue operations continue at the site of a collapsed 30-storey building in Bangkok. Authorities remain hopeful that there are still survivors to be found amidst the wreckage.
The Myanmar junta has declared a state of emergency across six areas in the country, as international aid begins to arrive to assist with the disaster relief efforts. Allies like Russia and China have sent rescue teams and supplies, while countries like India and Malaysia have also offered their support.
However, the response to the disaster is complicated by communication outages and damaged infrastructure, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the country since the military seized power in a coup. The junta has been met with fierce resistance, leading to a fractured response to the earthquake impact.
As the situation continues to unfold, the true scale of the damage is yet to be fully assessed. The World Food Programme and other humanitarian organizations face significant challenges in coordinating relief efforts in the midst of the crisis. The road to recovery will be long and arduous, with communities across Myanmar and beyond in urgent need of assistance.