Rescue efforts intensified in Myanmar on Saturday as international aid started arriving following a devastating earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian nation. Authorities fear the death toll will continue to rise.
Myanmar’s military government reported that fatalities had surged to 694, with 1,670 people injured. This marks a sharp increase from the initial count of 144 deaths reported by state media on Friday.
Read more: Twin Earthquakes Jolt Southeast Asia, Cause Devastation in Myanmar
The junta stated that essential infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings, suffered significant damage, leading to civilian casualties. Search and rescue teams were actively working in the affected regions.
General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military leader, warned on Friday that more deaths and injuries were expected. He also called on “any country” to extend support and provide humanitarian aid.
Global Response and USGS Predictions
On Saturday, a Chinese rescue team arrived in Myanmar, while Russia and the United States also offered assistance. The earthquake, which struck at midday on Friday, caused widespread destruction, including damage to hundreds of buildings in neighboring Thailand.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) projected that the death toll in Myanmar could surpass 10,000. Additionally, the economic impact might exceed the country’s GDP. Susan Hough, a scientist from USGS’s Earthquake Hazards Program, explained that predicting casualties is challenging due to various factors, including the time of occurrence. She noted that daytime earthquakes, like this one, tend to have lower casualties since people are awake and alert, allowing for quicker reactions.
Devastation in Myanmar and Thailand
Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, was among the worst-hit areas, being close to the earthquake’s epicenter.
In Bangkok, located 1,000 km (620 miles) away from the epicenter, rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate construction workers trapped under the debris of a collapsed 33-story building.
China sent a 37-member team to Myanmar’s former capital, Yangon, bringing medical supplies and advanced equipment to detect survivors. Russia also dispatched 120 experienced rescuers, along with doctors and search dogs, as reported by the state news agency TASS.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he had been in contact with Myanmar officials and confirmed that the U.S. would provide assistance.
Hough, who has studied Myanmar’s seismic activity, pointed out that the country’s mix of modern and traditional buildings played a role in the impact. She explained that traditional structures might be less hazardous than concrete buildings.
Rescue Efforts in Bangkok
Thai authorities reported that nine people had died and 101 were missing in Bangkok, most of whom were laborers trapped under the collapsed tower.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt vowed that no efforts would be spared in saving lives. Speaking from the rescue site on Saturday, he assured that all available resources would be utilized. Heavy machinery and drones were deployed to locate survivors amid the rubble.
The disaster brought Thailand’s capital to a standstill on Friday. Many residents spent the night in city parks, but the governor said conditions were improving.
