Rescue efforts are underway in Myanmar after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country, leaving over 1,000 people dead. The quake, which hit Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, has also caused widespread devastation. Authorities warn the death toll could rise significantly, with the US Geological Survey (USGS) estimating deaths may exceed 10,000.
The earthquake’s tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, around 900 kilometres away, causing structural damage and the collapse of several buildings.
Reports from Bangkok indicate over 2,000 buildings have sustained cracks, with one under-construction skyscraper collapsing. At least 10 people have died, and 100 construction workers are missing.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that vital signs had been detected from 15 individuals trapped beneath the rubble, as rescue operations continue without pause.
Strong tremors were also experienced in parts of India, including Meghalaya and Manipur, as well as in Bangladesh’s Dhaka and Chattogram, and regions in China.
Myanmar’s state media confirmed that 2,376 people have been injured. Survivors have described the harrowing aftermath. One survivor recounted being pulled from the rubble after the initial quake, only to experience further destruction when a second tremor caused another building to collapse, leaving several family members missing.
India as “First Responder”
In response, India has launched “Operation Brahma,” sending 15 tonnes of relief materials, including solar lamps, food packets, and kitchen sets, via an Indian Air Force C-130 J aircraft.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed India’s commitment to supporting Myanmar during the crisis.
The Thai government has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok. Meanwhile, the US has pledged assistance to Myanmar, despite recent budget cuts to USAID, a contributor to global disaster relief. The cuts had previously hindered humanitarian operations worldwide.
Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has made a rare appeal for international assistance, inviting countries and organisations to provide aid. China and Russia have responded, dispatching rescue teams and supplies to the quake-stricken region.
Myanmar’s vulnerability to earthquakes is attributed to its location along the Sagaing fault line. The region has a history of seismic activity, including a 7.7 magnitude quake in 1946 and a 6.8 magnitude quake in 2012.
As rescue teams continue to search for survivors, the full extent of the devastation remains uncertain.
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