Egypt Daily News – Death toll from the Myanmar earthquake has surpassed 1,000, with many still missing after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, as desperate families cling to hope that their missing loved ones will still be found alive.
Rescue workers have been working tirelessly in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, where many bodies have been pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The military-led government of Myanmar has reported that the death toll has reached 1,002 people, 2,376 injured, and 30 still missing. The statement also indicated that the numbers may continue to rise as “detailed figures are still being collected.”
Myanmar is already grappling with a prolonged and bloody civil war, which has led to a massive humanitarian crisis, complicating movement across the country and relief efforts. This raises concerns that the death toll could continue to climb.
The earthquake struck at midday on Friday, with its epicenter near Mandalay, followed by several aftershocks, including one of 6.4 magnitude. It caused buildings to collapse, roads to buckle, bridges to collapse, and a dam to burst. In the capital Naypyidaw, crews worked to repair damaged roads, while electricity, phone, and internet services remained down in much of the city.
Many buildings, including residential units for government civil servants, collapsed in the quake, and authorities blocked off that area of the city on Saturday.
The earthquake also affected neighboring Thailand, particularly the greater Bangkok area, which is home to about 17 million people. Six people have been confirmed dead in Thailand, 26 injured, and 47 still missing, most of whom were working at a construction site near the popular Chatuchak market.
At the time of the quake, a 33-story high-rise under construction by a Chinese firm for the Thai government collapsed in a massive dust cloud, causing panic and forcing people to flee. Rescue teams were sent to remove rubble, but as the search continued, hope for finding the missing alive began to fade.
“I was praying they survived, but when I got here and saw the ruins, where could they be? In which corner? Are they still alive? I am still praying they are all alive,” said Naruemol Thonglek, who was anxiously waiting for news about her partner and five friends who were at the site.
“I cannot accept this. When I see this, I can’t accept this. A close friend of mine is in there too,” she added. Waenphet Panta said she had not heard from her daughter Kanlayanee since a phone call an hour before the earthquake. She prayed her daughter was safe and hoped she had made it to a hospital.
Although earthquakes are rare in Bangkok, they are relatively common in Myanmar, which lies on the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south fault line.
Seismologist Brian Baptie explained that a 125-mile (200 km) stretch of the fault ruptured for over a minute, causing ground shaking, especially in areas with timber and unreinforced brick buildings. He warned that the situation could be disastrous for areas with vulnerable buildings.
The Myanmar government reported a high demand for blood in the hardest-hit areas. While Myanmar has previously been slow to accept foreign aid, the government has now expressed readiness to receive assistance.
Myanmar has been under military rule since February 2021, after the military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. The country is involved in a bloody civil war, which has displaced over 3 million people and left nearly 20 million in need of humanitarian aid.
Despite the devastating earthquake, the country’s humanitarian needs are likely to intensify. Haider Yaqub, Myanmar country director for Plan International, said, “Without a doubt, the humanitarian needs will be significant.”
A doctor in Myanmar expressed concerns that the healthcare system would struggle to cope due to a lack of medical resources, manpower, and emergency management.
The UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, referred to the earthquake as “a disaster on top of disaster” for a country already facing severe challenges, including poverty, tuberculosis, and HIV patients missing medication, and restricted food distribution.
Amnesty International researcher Joe Freeman said, “The earthquake could not have come at a worse time.”
The timing of the disaster coincided with a freeze on foreign assistance programs imposed earlier this year by US President Donald Trump, which led to cuts in services for Myanmar’s refugees, including hospital care in camps in Thailand.
The World Food Program has warned that food rations will be cut in April, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
China and Russia, major suppliers of weapons to Myanmar’s military, were among the first to offer aid. A 37-member team from China’s Yunnan province arrived in Yangon with earthquake detectors, drones, and supplies. Russia sent two planes carrying 120 rescuers and supplies, while India sent search-and-rescue teams and medical aid.
Malaysia and South Korea also pledged to help, with South Korea offering $2 million worth of aid. The UN allocated $5 million to support relief efforts.
President Donald Trump confirmed that the US would assist in the response, but experts are concerned about the effectiveness of this assistance given the administration’s previous cuts to foreign aid.
This earthquake has been recorded as the strongest to affect Thailand since the 1839 Ava earthquake, which reached an estimated magnitude of 8.3.
Thailand had already been impacted by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which was triggered by a 9.25 magnitude earthquake and killed an estimated 230,000 people.
In Myanmar, General Min Aung Hlaing warned that the death toll and injuries are expected to rise, with experts predicting fatalities could range from 10,000 to 100,000.
In Bangkok, British expat Chelsea King recalled being evacuated from her building as the earthquake struck. She described the chaos on the streets, with people fleeing in panic. Many had to leave their homes due to structural damage to their buildings, while others struggled to navigate the city due to closed transit systems and blocked roads.
Tourist Kelly Rhodes, staying at the Okura Prestige in Bangkok, shared similar experiences of being evacuated down 24 flights of stairs as the earthquake rocked the city. As airlines canceled flights and traffic came to a standstill, she described the situation as chaotic.
Witnesses in Bangkok reported seeing water pouring from high-rise pools, while others scrambled to escape from buildings that were visibly shaking and crumbling. Some, like Fraser Morton, sought refuge in parks as the buildings around them swayed and debris fell.
Mandy Tang, a tourist from London, was watching a film when the earthquake hit. She initially mistook the shaking for part of the movie, but soon realized it was a real earthquake. She and others were evacuated from the cinema, and she described the experience as surreal, like something out of a disaster film.
