Rescue Efforts Intensify as Myanmar Earthquake Toll Rises

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, leaving at least 1,700 dead and hundreds missing. Despite difficult conditions, rescue efforts persist as foreign aid arrives and survivors are discovered among the rubble.

Four additional survivors have been found in the wreckage of a school building in the Sagaing region of Myanmar, two and a half days after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated the area, resulting in over 1,700 fatalities. The Myanmar fire service confirmed that the latest rescues occurred in a location where another body was also recovered, underscoring the tragic scale of the disaster. As many as 76 workers remain unaccounted for in Thailand following the collapse of a construction site high-rise, where the death toll has reached 18.

The earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, along the active Sagaing fault line, producing shocks felt in neighboring countries. While rescue operations began immediately, there have been significant hurdles in reaching the most severely affected locations, compelling locals to engage in manual rescue attempts. Remarkably, an elderly woman was freed in Nay Pyi Taw after being trapped for 36 hours beneath a hospital's debris.

The first tremor hit at approximately 12:50 local time on Friday, just 10 kilometers below the surface, prompting notable aftershocks, including one measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale. Experts attribute the intensity of the seismic activity to the linear nature of the Sagaing fault. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, a high-rise tower collapsed, burying many construction workers, with signs of life still detected beneath the rubble, though perilously faint.

As the rescue operations unfold, numerous countries have pledged support, with teams arriving from China, Hong Kong, and India, among others. The UK has also announced a £10 million aid package aimed at assisting those affected. However, the ongoing military operations by Myanmar's ruling junta have compounded the crisis, with continued airstrikes reported in conflict-ridden regions. The National Unity Government has declared a temporary cessation of military offensives in affected areas, raising hopes for a more coordinated relief effort as the monsoon season approaches, threatening further displacement.