Rescue teams in Mandalay are racing against time after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by central Myanmar, leaving a widespread destruction in the wake. At least 694 people have been confirmed dead, according to Myanmar’s military leader, while US geological research has warned the final number to exceed 10,000.
The earthquake’s impact was felt far beyond Myanmar, shaking buildings in Bangkok – almost 900 km away – and encouraging a collapse of several key structures, including bridges and unfinished skyscraper. Ten deaths have been reported in Thailand so far, and over 100 construction workers remain missing in Bangkok. The tremor was also reported in the north -eastern part of India, Bangladesh and parts of China.
In Myanmar, survivors appear with disturbing stories. One man told the BBC that he was pulled out of the remnants after hitting the earthquake while he was in the toilet. When he headed with others in a nearby shelter building, the second earthquake caused that structure to fail. “My grandmother, aunt and uncles are still missing,” he said. “Their chances of survival are zero.”
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that India is ready to help, the country has begun “Brahma Operation” and sent 15 tonnes of relief reserves-including food packages, kitchen sets and solar lamps-on Indian Air Force F-130J aircraft. Foreign Ministry spokesman Randier Issewal said: “India acts as a first response to help Myanmar people affected by yesterday’s mass earthquake.”
The United States, despite the reduction of his global USAID budget, also pledged help. President Donald Trump said the support would be extended to Myanmar, who faced deepening the humanitarian crisis since the earthquake.
In a rare move, Myanmar’s chief of Yunta, Min Aung Hlaing, issued a global appeal: “I would like to invite any country, any organization or someone in Myanmar come and help.
China and Russia have already deployed rescue teams and assistance to the nation affected by the earthquake.
Experts attributed the earthquake of active A line of error in sagaWho passes through Myanmar and has a history of destructive seismic activity-an extremely earthquake of similar size in 1946 and a 6.8 magnitude event in 2012.
The country has been fighting for years of civil war, now facing serious power failures and a water crisis in areas affected by earthquakes.
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