A devastating earthquake struck Myanmar two days ago, killing over 1,600 people and injuring more than 3,400. The magnitude 7.7 quake also caused widespread destruction in the city of Mandalay, which is home to over 1.7 million people. Aftershocks continue to rattle the city, making rescue operations challenging.
Rescue workers are struggling to reach trapped survivors due to damaged buildings and infrastructure. Many areas lack essential equipment, and communication is unreliable. The Myanmar government has issued a rare appeal for international aid, but previous military governments have shunned foreign assistance after major disasters.
Aid agencies warn that Myanmar is unprepared to deal with such a disaster. The UN’s humanitarian agency reported severe shortages of medical supplies and damaged infrastructure. In some areas, residents are being left without aid, forced to fend for themselves.
International help is slowly arriving. Indian military aircraft have been ferrying supplies and search-and-rescue crews to the affected area. Chinese rescue personnel have also arrived, including a team that crossed from China by land. A Singaporean rescue team with dogs is operating in Mandalay, while rescuers in Bangkok are working to pluck out survivors trapped under debris.
The death toll is expected to rise significantly as more information becomes available. The Indian government has promised to help set up a field hospital and deploy engineers to assess and repair damaged buildings.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/30/aftershocks-frighten-myanmar-survivors-while-death-toll-from-bangkok-high-rise-collapse-rises