Rescue teams in Myanmar are racing against time to pull survivors from the rubble days after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated the country.
The death toll has climbed to 144, with over 700 injured, while many remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings. In Mandalay, the worst-hit city, citizen-led rescue groups are digging with bare hands, trying to reach those still calling for help.
A rescuer described the heartbreaking scene. “People are screaming help me, help me. I feel so hopeless,” he said. Another survivor shared how mothers were crying as their children remained buried under rubble. “The situation is desperate. We need urgent help,” she added.
The destruction in Mandalay is overwhelming. The historic royal palace suffered severe damage, and a 90-year-old bridge collapsed. Roads linking major cities, including the expressway between Yangon and Mandalay, are torn apart, delaying aid deliveries. The city’s General Hospital is overcrowded with patients, while outside, makeshift medical stations struggle to treat the wounded.
In Nay Pyi Taw, the capital, rescuers face grim challenges. A team attempting to free a trapped victim was forced to abandon the effort as the structure became too unstable. “We carried out a body and a critically injured person from a goldsmith’s shop, but 17 more are still inside,” a rescue worker said. “We can only save those we can hear.”
The earthquake’s impact extends beyond Myanmar’s borders. Tremors were felt in Thailand and China, and survivors in Yangon recall how buildings shook violently for minutes. “It wasn’t just in Yangon, it was everywhere,” a resident said. In Mandalay, people remain in shock. “It’s like a ruined city,” a woman said. “I have never seen anything shake this bad.”
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Communication blackouts and damaged roads are complicating relief efforts. International aid groups are struggling to reach affected areas. Doctors Without Borders attempted to send teams but had to turn back due to impassable roads. “The situation is extremely difficult, and access is limited,” said the group’s Myanmar mission head. Hospitals have declared mass casualty zones, with intravenous drips hanging from trees as medical staff treat patients outside.
The military government has declared a state of emergency in six regions and made a rare appeal for international assistance. “We need humanitarian aid as soon as possible,” junta leader Min Aung Hlaing stated.
For those outside Myanmar, contacting loved ones remains difficult. Shin Thant Sanar, a student in the UK, recalled waking up to a frantic call from her mother. “She was panicking. Moments later, my aunt walked in crying—she had lost everything,” she said. “Then the phone lines went dead.”
The timing of the quake made the disaster even worse. Many were inside mosques for Friday prayers when the buildings collapsed. Survivors say the streets they once knew are now unrecognizable.
Despite the challenges, rescuers continue working tirelessly. The fear now is that the window to save more lives is closing fast. With roads destroyed, power cuts, and hospitals overwhelmed, Myanmar’s earthquake-ravaged communities remain in urgent need of aid.
Reported by BBC
