Naypyitaw (Web Desk): A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread devastation and killing more than 1,600 people.
The quake, one of the most severe to hit the country in recent years, has left a trail of destruction across much of the nation, with airports, bridges, and roads severely damaged.
The worst-hit areas include Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, and Naypyitaw, the capital.
Rescue operations have been hindered by the damage to infrastructure, the ongoing civil conflict, and the lack of heavy machinery.
In the absence of proper rescue tools, residents in Mandalay resorted to digging through rubble with their bare hands in desperate attempts to save those trapped.
The earthquake also caused significant damage in neighboring Thailand, where it brought down a construction site skyscraper in Bangkok. At least nine people were killed, and rescue teams continued their efforts to locate the missing, including workers from Myanmar who had been on the site.
Despite the scale of the destruction in Myanmar, the military government only agreed to allow international aid in the aftermath.
In an unusually public move, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the country’s junta leader, visited Mandalay, instructing local authorities to accelerate search and rescue efforts.
Myanmar’s military junta has faced mounting pressure, with the death toll expected to rise considerably. Initial assessments by opposition groups indicate that nearly 3,000 buildings were damaged, and key transport routes were severely disrupted.
The quake’s impact was felt as far as Naypyitaw and Mandalay airports, both of which have been temporarily closed due to extensive damage. International aid has begun to arrive, with China, India, and several other countries sending supplies, including emergency medical kits, tents, and blankets.
Myanmar’s neighbor Thailand also mobilized search-and-rescue teams, though many areas remain inaccessible due to the ongoing conflict and damage to roads and infrastructure.
In addition to the destruction in Myanmar, the disaster has left its mark in Thailand. The collapse of the high-rise building in Bangkok, caused by the tremors, has further strained emergency response efforts.
Despite this, authorities in both countries have vowed to continue searching for survivors. In Myanmar, there are significant concerns that the lack of resources and personnel will limit the effectiveness of rescue operations in the hardest-hit regions.
Survivors in Mandalay have expressed frustration over the slow arrival of aid, as many areas remain cut off from help.
As of now, the earthquake’s economic toll is already staggering, with predictions that it could surpass the country’s annual economic output.
The United States (US) and several other nations have pledged to send aid, although Myanmar’s military government has been criticized for its slow and limited response.
The international community, including ASEAN, has promised to support Myanmar’s relief and recovery efforts, though the situation remains dire.