Myanmar, Thailand rescuers race to find more survivors days after deadly earthquake
Survivors were miraculously pulled out of the rubble in Myanmar, while signs of life were detected in the ruins of a skyscraper in Bangkok, as rescue efforts intensified following a devastating earthquake in Southeast Asia. The earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck the region on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of approximately 2,000 people.
In Mandalay, central Myanmar, rescuers managed to free four individuals, including a pregnant woman and a young girl, from collapsed buildings. The China Search and Rescue Team, one of several countries providing aid and personnel in the rescue operation, played a crucial role in pulling survivors out of the rubble. “It doesn’t matter how long we work. The most important thing is that we can bring hope to the local people,” said Yue Xin, head of the Chinese team.
Drone footage of Mandalay revealed the extent of the devastation, with a massive multi-storey building reduced to layers of concrete. Despite the widespread destruction, some gilded temples in the city remained standing. The death toll in Myanmar has tragically surpassed 2,000, with thousands more injured and hundreds still missing, according to the country’s state television channel MRTV.
In Bangkok, Thai officials expressed optimism as they detected signs of life at the site of a collapsed skyscraper under construction. The death toll at the building site has risen to 12, with a total of 19 fatalities reported across Thailand and 75 individuals still unaccounted for. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt emphasized that rescue efforts would continue beyond the conventional 72-hour window, citing previous instances where survivors were found alive even after prolonged periods under rubble.
Amidst the ongoing rescue operations, aid efforts have been complicated by the civil unrest stemming from the 2021 coup in Myanmar. The United Nations has mobilized relief supplies to assist survivors in central Myanmar, acknowledging the urgent need for global solidarity and support. However, access to affected areas remains a challenge due to security concerns and the ongoing conflict within the country.
The United States has pledged $2 million in aid through Myanmar-based humanitarian organizations, although recent cuts to USAID funding under the Trump administration have raised concerns about the availability of resources for relief efforts. As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, calls for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate aid delivery have been made by international entities, highlighting the imperative of cooperation and support in the face of immense devastation.
