In brief
Nearly 60 hours post-earthquake rescue missions recover survivors from the rubble, but the death toll and number of missing persons continue to climb. Amidst ongoing military strikes in civil war regions, the international community rallies to support relief efforts as monsoon season approaches.
Four more individuals were extracted from the debris in Mandalay, Myanmar, nearly 60 hours after a catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the region on Friday, resulting in at least 1,700 fatalities across the country. Rescuers managed to save the survivors from a collapsed school building in the northern Sagaing area, where a body was also recovered, as confirmed by Myanmar's fire service. Hundreds of residents are still unaccounted for, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations in both Myanmar and the neighboring country, Thailand.In Bangkok, the death toll stands at 18, while 76 workers remain missing following the collapse of a high-rise building that was under construction. The earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, along the Sagaing fault—a geological fault line known for its significant seismic activity.Despite international aid beginning to arrive in Myanmar, delays in accessing the most affected areas have hindered rescue efforts, forcing local residents to start digging through the rubble by hand to locate survivors. On Saturday night, an elderly woman was rescued from beneath the rubble of a hospital in Nay Pyi Taw after being trapped for 36 hours. Video footage captured the moment as she was carried on a stretcher to an awaiting ambulance, surrounded by emergency personnel.On Sunday, 29 additional survivors were rescued from a collapsed apartment building, according to reports from local fire authorities. The earthquake initially struck at around 12:50 local time (06:20 GMT) on Friday, with tremors also felt across several neighboring countries. A second aftershock, measuring 6.4 in magnitude, hit just 12 minutes later.In Bangkok, a construction site collapse buried many workers; however, rescuers detected signs of life beneath the rubble, as local officials reported concerns about the quality of materials used in the building's construction. Families in Thailand are anxiously awaiting news about their missing loved ones, with one distressed woman stating that she will wait indefinitely for updates on her husband who was at work that day.As international rescue teams join efforts, countries like China, Hong Kong, and India are sending assistance to Myanmar, while the UK has pledged £10 million in aid. However, amid the disaster relief efforts, Myanmar's ruling military junta has been carrying out airstrikes in civil war-stricken regions, which has drawn severe condemnation from the United Nations.The National Unity Government, representing the ousted civilian administration, stated that its armed forces would halt offensive operations for two weeks in earthquake-hit areas, despite the ongoing military violence in other parts of the country. As the monsoon season looms closer, humanitarian experts warn that the expected rains could lead to further displacement and exacerbate existing challenges.
