Myanmar’s military leadership has confirmed that 1,644 people have died, with 3,408 injured and 139 still missing. after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday and sending tremors as far as Thailand and Pakistan.
Rescue efforts are underway as emergency teams struggle to reach those trapped under collapsed buildings.
The city of Mandalay, the closest to the epicentre, suffered massive destruction, with over 1,500 homes damaged. A Red Cross official told AFP that at least 90 people are trapped beneath the rubble of an apartment complex in the city.
A rescue worker in Mandalay, speaking to the BBC, described the desperate situation: “We are digging people out with our bare hands.”
Despite the devastation, stories of survival have emerged. A 30-year-old woman was rescued after being trapped under a collapsed building for 30 hours. Footage from AFP captured the emotional moment when she was embraced by her husband before being taken to the hospital.
In Thailand, the earthquake caused severe damage in Bangkok, where a high-rise construction site collapsed, leaving at least 50 workers unaccounted for. Officials report 10 deaths, 42 injuries, and 78 people missing.
Authorities deployed robots to aid in the search and rescue mission, as responders work around the clock to locate survivors.
Adding to the crisis, the People’s Defence Force (PDF) has accused Myanmar’s military of launching airstrikes near the earthquake’s epicentre, further endangering civilians and complicating rescue efforts.
