Rescue workers in Naypyitaw pulled a 63-year-old woman from the rubble on Tuesday—91 hours after Myanmar’s massive earthquake turned buildings into death traps. Her survival was a rare miracle in the midst of a catastrophe that has already claimed more than 2,700 lives and left the country reeling from an even deeper humanitarian crisis.
Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck just past midday, bringing devastation across a vast stretch of the country. Entire towns were left without electricity, phone lines, or roads, making it nearly impossible to assess the full scale of destruction. And while rescue efforts continue, the clock is ticking—experts warn that survival rates plummet after 72 hours under the rubble.
Myanmar’s military government, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has now put the official toll at 2,719 dead, with 4,521 injured and 441 still missing—numbers expected to rise sharply as teams dig through the wreckage. This earthquake is now the second strongest in Myanmar’s recorded history, only behind a magnitude 8 earthquake that struck east of Mandalay in 1912.
For a country already battling the devastation of civil war, this disaster has only deepened the suffering. And with infrastructure damaged or destroyed, aid workers fear the worst is yet to come.
The devastation from last week’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake continues to unfold in Myanmar and neighboring Thailand, where the confirmed death toll has climbed to 2,700+ and 21, respectively. Rescuers in both countries are still digging through rubble, searching for survivors—but time is running out.
Myanmar: A Nation in Crisis
Myanmar’s hospitals are overwhelmed, roads are shattered, and entire communities flattened. The United Nations and aid groups report a desperate lack of food, water, and medical supplies, while continuing aftershocks fuel anxiety.
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The World Health Organization warns that cholera outbreaks are likely, with running water shortages worsening the crisis.
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Plan International is trying to provide not just food and shelter, but also mental health support—especially for children, many of whom are now sleeping outside in fear of aftershocks.
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The UNHCR is rushing in plastic sheets, mosquito nets, and bedding for displaced families.
The civil war is making everything worse. Myanmar’s military tightened control over the internet, blocking aid workers from reaching remote areas. The Karen National Union, one of the country’s largest rebel groups, accused the junta of launching airstrikes instead of focusing on earthquake relief.
Yet, some hope remains. The Three Brotherhood Alliance, a coalition of rebel groups, has declared a one-month ceasefire to allow for humanitarian efforts. But aid workers say an official ceasefire from the military is desperately needed.
Tragedy in Thailand: Skyscraper Collapse in Bangkok
In Bangkok, Thailand, rescue teams are still working to pull bodies from the ruins of a collapsed skyscraper that was under construction. 70 people are feared trapped inside.
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Using scanners, teams have located 12 bodies, but massive debris blocks their way.
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Bangkok’s governor insists, “There is still hope,” citing rare cases where people have survived under rubble for up to a week.
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The Thai government has launched an investigation into the construction, after early testing suggested the steel used may have been substandard.
With multinational rescue teams from the US and Israel assisting, officials are racing against time. Meanwhile, families wait in agony for news about their missing loved ones.
As Myanmar and Thailand struggle to recover, this earthquake is proving to be one of Southeast Asia’s worst disasters in recent history. And with each passing day, the humanitarian needs keep growing.
