Devastating 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Kills 1,644 in Myanmar – Thousands Missing
A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar near Mandalay on Friday, leaving at least 1,644 dead and over 3,400 people missing. The disaster has plunged the country into chaos, with collapsed buildings, shattered infrastructure, and ongoing civil war making rescue efforts a nightmare.
Rescue Efforts Stalled by Ruined Roads and Ruptured Communications
Emergency teams have started reaching the worst-hit areas, but progress is painfully slow. Crumbled roads, broken bridges, and damaged airports block access to those trapped.
Cara Bragg, manager of Catholic Relief Services in Yangon, painted a grim picture:
“It’s mainly been local volunteers and residents trying to find their loved ones. Some countries are now sending search and rescue teams, but hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of injured, and there’s a severe shortage of medical supplies, food, and clean water.”
Airports Slammed, Flights Grounded – Mandalay in Crisis
Mandalay Airport and Naypyitaw Airport suffered severe damage, including the loss of Naypyitaw’s control tower. All commercial flights to the area have been cancelled. Thousands in Mandalay – a city of 1.5 million – are forced to sleep rough, fleeing unsafe homes amid relentless aftershocks.
Global Aid Trickles In as Myanmar Battles Civil War
- India has deployed two C-17 military planes carrying a field hospital and 120 personnel to set up a 60-bed emergency treatment centre.
- China pledged around £11 million in aid and sent 135 rescue workers, generators, and medical kits. A convoy of 17 Chinese trucks loaded with supplies is en route to Mandalay.
- Russia dispatched 120 rescuers and a medical team to Yangon.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Thailand also felt the quake’s tremors, with 17 confirmed deaths, including 10 in a Bangkok construction site collapse.
Civil War Blocks Relief – Partial Ceasefire Ignored
Myanmar’s brutal civil war worsens the tragedy. The military, which seized power in 2021, continues fighting opposition groups including the People’s Defence Forces.
The opposition National Unity Government declared a unilateral partial ceasefire to aid relief efforts, but the military reportedly ignored it and kept up airstrikes.
The Three Brotherhood Alliance, a major militant coalition, promised:
“We will promptly provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake to the best of our ability, with a spirit of humanity, unity, and brotherhood.”
Desperate Search for Survivors Amid Collapsed Health Services
Time is running out for those trapped under rubble. Most survivors are found within 24 hours, but with roads blocked and hospitals overwhelmed, hopes are fading.
A UN report warns of severe damage or destruction to healthcare facilities, with urgent calls for trauma kits, blood supplies, and medical tents. Many patients now receive treatment outdoors or in makeshift clinics.
Death Toll Set to Rise as Crisis Deepens
Rescue efforts remain focused on Mandalay and Naypyitaw, but vast rural areas remain unreachable. Aid agencies fear the death toll could soar as more data emerges.
Cara Bragg cautioned:
“Right now, we’re at 1,600 known fatalities, but with limited data, we have to assume it will increase into the thousands.”
As Myanmar battles the nightmare of a devastating earthquake and a crippling civil war, the world watches anxiously. The road to recovery is bleak, and countless lives hang in the balance.
