About 1,600 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are still trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the earthquake caused widespread destruction, particularly in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city.
Survivors and rescue workers have been using their bare hands and borrowed machinery to search for those still trapped, due to lack of heavy equipment and ongoing civil unrest.
The military government has appealed for international assistance, leading to aid and rescue teams arriving from countries including China, India, and Russia.
However, despite these efforts, damaged infrastructure like collapsed bridges and blocked roads, continues to hinder the rescue operations.
In Thailand, the earthquake’s tremors caused the collapse of a skyscraper in Bangkok, resulting in several fatalities and leaving many workers, including some from Myanmar, trapped.
The disaster has heightened existing challenges in Myanmar, a nation already grappling with civil conflict and economic hardship.
Authorities fear the death toll may rise further as rescue and recovery operations continue.
