Rescue efforts intensified Monday in Myanmar as four more people were pulled alive from the debris nearly 60 hours after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country on Friday, killing at least 1,700 people.
The latest survivors were recovered from the ruins of a collapsed school building in the Sagaing region, along with one deceased victim, according to Myanmar’s fire service. With hundreds still missing, search teams—many working by hand—are racing against time amid continuing aftershocks and mounting humanitarian needs.
The powerful quake, one of the region’s strongest in recent memory, struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, along the Sagaing fault line. Tremors were felt as far away as Thailand, where a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok collapsed, killing 18 people. At least 76 workers remain trapped in the rubble, with officials reporting weak signs of life beneath the ruins.
Aid Delays and Overwhelmed Hospitals
Though international aid has started trickling in, many of the worst-hit areas remain hard to access. Residents in Mandalay and Sagaing report using bare hands to dig out survivors. A teacher told the BBC that “people are still suffering,” while in Sagaing, locals describe a growing stench of decomposing bodies in the streets.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that hospitals are overwhelmed, and the World Food Programme (WFP) says thousands are displaced without shelter, food, or medical supplies.
One particularly moving rescue occurred Saturday in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where an elderly woman was found alive after spending 36 hours trapped beneath a hospital. She was carried to safety on a stretcher in scenes captured on video.
Across Mandalay, emergency crews say 29 more people were rescued from a collapsed apartment block on Sunday. Aftershocks continue to rattle the region, including a 5.1-magnitude tremor recorded Sunday northwest of Mandalay.
Bangkok Disaster and Structural Concerns
In Bangkok, engineers are investigating the collapse of the unfinished tower, with officials citing “anomalies” in steel materials. Families of the missing workers remain camped outside the site, waiting anxiously for news. “I will wait as long as it takes,” one woman told the BBC.
Thailand’s deputy prime minister confirmed signs of life under the wreckage, but said the chances of survival were diminishing with time.
Global Response Underway
Countries around the world are mobilizing to assist Myanmar, including:
- China: 82-person rescue team
- Hong Kong: 51-member team
- India: Rescue crew and emergency supplies
- Malaysia: 50-person disaster relief team
- Others: Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, New Zealand, the U.S., and Ireland
- UK: £10 million in humanitarian aid
Despite global support, the ongoing civil war in Myanmar adds further complication. The military junta, which seized power in 2021, continues air strikes even in quake-stricken regions. Chaung-U township in Sagaing was among those reportedly bombed over the weekend.
In response, the National Unity Government (NUG)—representing the ousted civilian administration—announced a two-week pause in offensive operations to focus on disaster relief.
Looming Monsoon Threat
Experts warn that the coming monsoon season, which begins in April and intensifies in May, could worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis. “Flooding, damaged sanitation systems, and displacement will make things even harder,” said Lauren Ellery of the International Rescue Committee.
As aftershocks persist and aid struggles to reach those in need, survivors, emergency workers, and international teams continue a race against time—battling not just the devastation, but also disease, instability, and nature’s next move.
