Myanmar Earthquake: Death Toll Rises Amid Desperate Rescues

Photo: AP

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 hit Myanmar on Friday, causing massive destruction. The city of Sagaing, which is closest to the center of the earthquake, has been severely affected. The smell of dead bodies now fills the air with every gust of wind, says Thar Nge, a resident of Sagaing.

As of Sunday, more bodies are being found than survivors. Thar Nge told that rescue workers from Mandalay finally reached Sagaing earlier in the day. They were delayed because the Yadanabon Bridge, which crosses the Irrawaddy River, had been closed. It was only after the bridge reopened that the rescue teams could get through.

The Ava Bridge, built around 90 years ago during British rule, was among the many structures that collapsed. The earthquake has killed at least 1,700 people and injured more than 3,400. Officials fear the numbers will rise as more victims are found in the coming hours and days.

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Rescue Efforts Face Delays

Thar Nge explained that rescue teams couldn’t arrive quickly because of the damaged bridge. When they finally reached Sagaing, the situation was grim. He had already lost hope of finding his son alive. So far, around 90 bodies have been recovered, but only 36 people have been rescued from the rubble of their homes, businesses, and Buddhist temples.

“Many people, including monks and nuns, are still trapped under buildings, monasteries, and nunneries,” Thar Nge said. Sadly, the focus has now shifted from saving lives to recovering and burying the dead.

Difficult Conditions for Rescue Teams

In Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, rescue teams are struggling. The city is only 22 km (14 miles) from Sagaing, but damaged roads and fallen buildings have made it hard to reach. With little specialized equipment, rescuers and family members are digging through the debris with their bare hands.

On Sunday, temperatures reached as high as 39°C (102°F), making the situation even worse. Ko Lin Maw, a Mandalay resident, was heartbroken as he stood near his destroyed home. His mother and two sons were still trapped under the debris.

Even though he tried calling for help, he couldn’t get a signal. To make matters worse, the few rescue teams in Mandalay were prioritizing larger disaster sites where more people were believed to be trapped.

“The number of rescue workers is clearly not enough to save victims,” Ko Lin Maw said sadly. It had already been 48 hours since the earthquake, yet there were still not enough emergency workers or aid supplies in Mandalay.

Rescue Teams Relying on Social Media

Htet Wai, a firefighter from Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, traveled 627 km (390 miles) to Mandalay on Sunday morning. With phone lines down and poor internet connections, his team relied on Facebook posts to find out where help was needed most.

“When we arrived, we went straight to a location we saw online,” Htet Wai explained. Sadly, their first rescue attempt turned into a body recovery instead of saving a life.

“With this heat, I fear we will find more bodies than survivors,” he said.

Urgent Need for Supplies

Htet Wai said there was a desperate need for body bags, as the bodies were decaying quickly in the heat. Weather reports predicted that temperatures could reach 40°C (104°F) or higher in the coming week, which will make things even worse.

“The body we found was already decomposing. It’s heartbreaking,” he said.

He added that the disaster was too large for local rescue teams to handle alone. More skilled workers, heavy equipment, and emergency supplies were needed urgently.

The people of Myanmar are now facing one of the worst disasters in recent history, as families wait in hope, while rescue workers race against time to save lives.