Rescue workers in Myanmar’s capital successfully rescued a 63-year-old woman from the debris of a collapsed building on Tuesday. However, hopes of finding more survivors from the devastating earthquake, which has claimed over 2,700 lives, were diminishing amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a civil war.
According to Naypyitaw’s fire department, the woman was extracted from the rubble 91 hours after being trapped during the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck at midday on Friday. Experts note that the chances of finding survivors significantly decrease after 72 hours.
The head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, announced during a relief donation forum in Naypyitaw that the death toll had reached 2,719, with 4,521 injured and 441 people missing, as reported by Myanmar’s state television, MRTV. He described Friday’s earthquake as the second most powerful in the nation’s recorded history, following a magnitude 8 quake near Mandalay in 1912. Officials anticipate these figures will rise given the widespread effects of the quake, which caused extensive power and communication outages and infrastructure damage, complicating damage assessment efforts. Reports have predominantly emerged from Mandalay, near the quake’s epicenter, and Naypyitaw.
UNICEF’s deputy representative for Myanmar, Julia Rees, stated that the needs are immense and growing rapidly. Myanmar’s fire department has reported rescuing 403 people in Mandalay and recovering 259 bodies. Sadly, 50 Buddhist monks were killed when a monastery collapsed, and 150 more are presumed buried.
The World Health Organization reports that over 10,000 buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged. The earthquake also affected neighboring Thailand, where a high-rise collapse resulted in 22 fatalities and 34 injuries. In Myanmar, search and rescue activities paused momentarily for a minute’s silence to honor the deceased.
International rescue efforts are proceeding slowly due to a shortage of heavy machinery. In Naypyitaw, workers formed human chains to clear debris. Notably, a Chinese rescue team saved four individuals, including a child and a pregnant woman trapped in an apartment complex for over 60 hours. Two teenagers managed to escape the rubble using their cellphone flashlights, aiding rescuers in locating their family members.
Global aid is gradually arriving, with teams from Russia, China, India, the UAE, and various Southeast Asian countries assisting. A small U.S. assessment team arrived on Tuesday to evaluate the situation and devise an appropriate response, having awaited visas in Thailand following a decision to provide $2 million in aid.
Despite the immense need for assistance, Myanmar faces significant hurdles due to its ongoing civil conflict. The military regime, which took power in 2021, continues to combat armed resistance, complicating humanitarian efforts. The shadow opposition, National Unity Government (NUG), has called for a ceasefire and for international aid to reach those affected without military interference, stressing the potential for severe consequences if aid is diverted.
Min Aung Hlaing has expressed openness to accepting international help, unlike past occurrences such as the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, when the military restricted foreign aid. Meanwhile, the NUG and the Three Brotherhood Alliance have announced unilateral ceasefires, though it remains uncertain how the military will respond. U.N. rights monitor Tom Andrews emphasized that military actions must cease to prioritize saving lives in Myanmar.
