Buildings crumbled, roads split apart, and terrified residents ran for their lives as a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, followed by a series of aftershocks. More than 1,000 people are dead, thousands are injured, and many remain trapped beneath the rubble, their muffled cries the only sign that they are still alive.
In the chaos, desperate rescue workers are battling against time with little more than their hands. “We are digging out people with our bare hands. It is not enough to get the bodies and people out who are trapped under the rubble,” one rescuer told the BBC. “People are screaming: ‘Help me, help me.’ I feel so hopeless.”
Myanmar Earthquake Live Updates
The earthquake, which struck northwest of Sagaing, has claimed over 1,000 lives in Myanmar alone, with at least 2,400 others injured. The tremors also caused widespread destruction in Mandalay, where residents fear the worst. “We need aid. We don’t have enough of anything,” said Thar Aye, 68, a resident of Mandalay.
Trapped victims cry for help
The earthquake flattened buildings and left many buried beneath the debris. Rescuers are struggling to pull people out, hampered by a lack of heavy machinery. “We are still trying to pull out the rest of the trapped people, but we need large machines. They are still shouting, and we can still hear their voices, but we can’t know where they are,” a rescue worker told BBC Burmese.
At Mandalay’s Sky Villa Condominium, where several storeys collapsed, more than 90 people are feared trapped. A Red Cross official told AFP that rescuers were desperately working to free those buried in the wreckage. “If we can get the support of those big machines, we can remove the damage and then pull out the trapped people,” the worker added.
Rare plea for international aid
The scale of the disaster has forced Myanmar’s military government to make a rare request for international assistance. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s appeal marks a significant shift, as past military regimes have often rejected foreign aid following natural disasters.
An initial aid flight from India, carrying hygiene kits, blankets, and food supplies, landed in Yangon on Saturday. China has also deployed an 82-person rescue team to assist in relief efforts. However, humanitarian workers warn that Myanmar remains unprepared to handle a crisis of this magnitude, with 3.5 million people already displaced by civil war before the quake struck.
A humanitarian worker told the BBC that navigating aid operations is becoming increasingly difficult under Myanmar’s political climate. “A lot of the way we operate is without seeking approvals, and at the same time, Myanmar is a place where you cannot do anything if you haven’t gotten approval,” she said. She added that the areas worst hit by the earthquake remain military strongholds, making relief efforts even more challenging.
Bangkok also hit, survivors recount terror
The earthquake’s impact was also felt in Bangkok, Thailand, where 10 people have been confirmed dead. A 30-storey building under construction collapsed, trapping workers under debris. Authorities fear that up to 100 workers may still be missing.
French tourist Augustin Gus was in a shopping mall when the tremors hit. “As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, the ground started shaking. I thought it was just me, but it wasn’t,” he told AFP. “People were screaming and running, so I joined in and started screaming too.”
Some Bangkok residents were caught off guard, with confusion delaying evacuations. A business traveller from the Solomon Islands recounted his experience: “Unfortunately, there were no procedures in place. So everyone was getting confused. I just wanted to get out.”
Despite the chaos, many tourists have chosen to continue their trips. Cristina Mangion from Malta was in her hotel bed when the shaking began but later decided to visit the famous Chatuchak market. “I feel bad for what happened, but I think the best thing is to actually come here and help the locals with their business.”