Hundreds of residents in Mandalay, Myanmar, woke up on Tuesday to more earthquake recovery work, with many fearing they can return safely to permanent shelter anytime. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the city on Friday, killing over 2,000 people and destroying homes across the area.
Resident Hlaing Hlaing Hmwe, 57, expressed concern that her neighboring building could collapse on top of her family. Despite the risk, she prefers to stay outdoors due to the hot weather, which is making it unbearable for children to sleep inside. She is considering moving to a monastery in search of shelter.
Soe Tint, a 71-year-old Mandalay resident, also had to leave his home due to nearby buildings that are now leaning precariously. He moved into a field with his family, citing the lack of basic amenities like water and electricity as a challenge.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts have been complicated by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, which has left much of the country’s infrastructure in ruins. The government has announced a week of mourning, with a minute of silence held at 12:51:02 GMT on Tuesday, the exact time the earthquake struck.
As rebuilding efforts resume, survivors like Soe Tint are eager to return home, but no one knows how long it will take.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/collapse-anytime-mandalay-quake-victims-075729278.html