Myanmar has been hit by a terrible earthquake. According to the ruling junta, the death toll stands at a minimum of 694 dead as well. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.7, hit on Friday, January 27th, resulting in terrible devastation and loss of life. What junta chief Min Aung Hlaing did after the earthquake. On Saturday, he flew to Mandalay to survey the destruction in that city — the nearest large city to the epicenter.
The tremors were still so mighty that they could even be felt in China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. In Mandalay, a city with about 1.5 million residents, 68 people are still unaccounted for. This city, Myanmar’s second most populous, bore the brunt of the earthquake’s impact.
In Bangkok, Thailand, the major impacts of the quake were clearly felt. A major high-rise development of three towers linked by a skybridge was hard hit. Falling debris came from the still-standing bridge that links the two towers of Bangkok’s Park Origin Thonglor condominium. At the same time, water spilled over the side of the elevated pool deck. That’s the second building near Chatuchak weekend market to collapse during construction. Rescuers worked desperately through the night to find dozens of people thought to still be buried inside.
He has already announced a state of emergency, and requested international intervention.
“I have personally visited some affected sites to assess the situation. I would like to call upon everyone to join hands and support the ongoing rescue missions,” – Min Aung Hlaing
The first foreign rescue team to arrive in Myanmar was from China, which arrived in the country on Saturday morning. On its part, India has reacted very quickly by sending a rescue and medical team with humanitarian assistance.
“Search, rescue, and relief operations are being carried out in the respective affected areas,” – Myanmar’s military junta
As International Rescue Committee’s Myanmar director, Mohamed Riyas, has cautioned, it will take weeks to know the full scale of the destruction. The situation is still quite perilous as assessments are ongoing. The ongoing civil war in Myanmar has hampered international and local efforts to assess and clean up the aftermath of the disaster. In addition, communication blackouts in many of the most affected areas are further hampering rescue operations.
That’s why, as one director of an unnamed humanitarian organization working in Myanmar, explained rebuilding efforts in severely affected areas might take years. The sudden, catastrophic impact of this earthquake has left thousands in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, public health care and safe shelter.
“because there are significant communication blackouts in some of the hardest-hit areas” – Federica Franco
Meanwhile, efforts continue as teams work tirelessly to locate survivors amid the rubble and provide much-needed aid to those affected. The international community’s response is critical as Myanmar moves forward from a tumultuous time.
“We will continue to monitor the developments and more aid will follow”
