Myanmar Earthquake: Over 2,700 Dead, Rescue Operations Continue

Photo : AFP

Rescue teams are still working hard to save people from the ruins of buildings after a huge earthquake in Myanmar. The earthquake, which happened on Friday, was very strong, with a magnitude of 7.7. Over 2,700 people have died, and many more are hurt. The disaster has made the situation in Myanmar even worse, adding to problems caused by a long civil war in the country.

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On Tuesday, a 63-year-old woman was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar. She had been trapped for 91 hours before rescue workers were able to save her. Sadly, as time passes, hope of finding more survivors is getting smaller. Experts say that after 72 hours, it is much harder to find people alive.

The leader of Myanmar’s military government, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, shared that so far 2,719 people have died, 4,521 are hurt, and 441 are still missing. The numbers are expected to grow as the search continues. The earthquake affected a large part of Myanmar, and many places still do not have power, phones, or other ways to communicate. The damage to roads and bridges makes it even harder to get help to the affected areas.

Many families in the affected areas are running out of food, clean water, and medicine. Julia Rees, who works for UNICEF in Myanmar, said that the situation is getting worse by the hour. Rescue efforts are still going on, but many buildings have been destroyed, and it’s difficult to get to everyone who needs help. So far, 403 people have been rescued in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Many people are still trapped under buildings.

In one tragic event, 50 Buddhist monks who were taking an exam in a monastery died when the building collapsed. Around 150 more people are thought to be buried under the rubble. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that more than 10,000 buildings in central and northern Myanmar have been destroyed or badly damaged.

The earthquake also caused problems in neighboring Thailand, where a high-rise building under construction collapsed, killing at least 21 workers and injuring 34. Despite all the efforts to rescue people, many are still missing, and the situation remains very serious.

Search and rescue work paused briefly on Tuesday in Myanmar as people stood silently to remember the victims. Foreign aid workers are starting to arrive, but help is slow because there isn’t enough heavy equipment in some places. In Naypyitaw, some workers formed a human chain to pass out bricks and debris from the collapsed buildings.

A group of Chinese rescue workers helped save four people from the Sky Villa, a large apartment complex that collapsed during the earthquake. Among the survivors were a 5-year-old child and a pregnant woman who had been trapped for over 60 hours. Two teenagers also crawled out of the rubble using their cell phones to guide them. Thanks to what they said, rescuers were able to find and save their grandmother and sibling.

Many countries have promised to send millions of dollars to help Myanmar. However, the country was already facing a huge crisis before the earthquake. Over 3 million people had been forced to leave their homes because of the civil war, and nearly 20 million people needed help. The earthquake has made things even worse, especially for those without basic health care and clean water. The damage to water systems is making it easier for diseases to spread, and the United Nations has warned of possible outbreaks of diseases like measles and dengue fever.

Myanmar’s military government took power in 2021 after a coup. Since then, the country has been in a civil war, making it difficult for aid groups to reach the people who need help the most. The opposition group, known as the National Unity Government (NUG), has called for a temporary stop to fighting to help with the rescue work. They are asking the world to make sure aid reaches the people who need it, without interference from the military.

The NUG has also warned that the military might try to stop the aid from reaching the people, as it did after a deadly cyclone in 2008. The military had refused to let foreign help into the country back then, which made the disaster worse. This time, the leader of Myanmar's military, Min Aung Hlaing, has said the country will accept outside help, but it’s still not clear how the aid will be delivered.

The situation in Myanmar is very difficult. The earthquake, combined with the ongoing civil war, has made it harder to save lives and get the necessary help to those who need it most. Rescue teams and aid workers are racing against time to help the survivors. The world is watching closely and hoping that the help will get to the people who need it before it is too late.