Death
The death toll from the catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar has exceeded 1,600, with concerns growing that this figure might increase substantially as search crews urgently try to find survivors amidst extensive damage.
NBC News
reported on Saturday.
On Friday, a strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, resulting in extensive damage.
The earthquake, which was centered close to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-biggest city, also impacted neighboring Thailand, resulting in several fatalities and dozens of individuals reported as missing.
The quake hit at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time, succeeded by an aftershock with a magnitude of 6.7 about 11 minutes afterward.
Reports indicated that another tremor measuring 5.1 magnitude was detected close to the capital city, Naypyidaw.
In Thailand, a 30-story building in Bangkok collapsed, pinning many people beneath the debris.
The rescue crews, employing drones, canines, and large machinery, operated non-stop to look for people still alive, pinpointing indications of survival under the rubble.
In Myanmar, the circumstances stayed dire as rescue teams continued to face challenges reaching individuals stuck beneath ruined structures.
Videos verified by
NBC News
demonstrated considerable damage, such as the collapse of a Buddhist monastery in Pindaya and a clock tower in Mandalay.
The hospitals were inundated with casualties, and the military administration announced a state of emergency in multiple areas such as Mandalay and Naypyidaw.
The city’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, stated that rescue teams were able to pick up indications of life from roughly 15 individuals trapped beneath the debris. As efforts intensified on Saturday, workers hurried to save those still alive before time ran out.
With rescue and recovery operations ongoing, the
BBC’s
The Burmese media reported hearing screams coming from beneath the wreckage of a fallen high-rise building in Mandalay, where approximately 50 individuals had already been rescued from the debris.
The military regime in Myanmar announced a state of emergency across several regions such as Mandalay and Naypyidaw, stating that rescue efforts were being conducted in the most severely affected zones.
The International Rescue Committee cautioned that the economic repercussions of the earthquake might surpass Myanmar’s total gross domestic product, exacerbating the pressures on a nation already struggling with a humanitarian emergency because of continuing conflicts.
“The true scale of damage from this earthquake might take several weeks to become apparent,” stated Mohammed Riyas, who leads the International Rescue Committee in Myanmar, on Friday.
Over 19 million individuals in Myanmar were already facing critical humanitarian needs prior to the earthquake, which has further exacerbated the crisis.
“The additional pressure from addressing the requirements of those hurt in this earthquake will impose an unprecedented burden on resources that are already strained,” Riyas cautioned.
International assistance has started rolling in, with nations such as Russia and China sending over rescue teams and provisions.
The military administration of Myanmar has established pathways for external aid, welcoming proposals from nearby countries and global entities.
Leveraging predictive analytics that factor in the quake’s magnitude and intensity, the USGS forecasts that fatalities might go over 10,000, with potential economic damages likely exceeding the nation’s gross domestic product.
By Saturday afternoon, according to local Myanmar state media, 3,408 individuals were recorded as injured, with 139 others unaccounted for.
Russia has already initiated assistance efforts, dispatching two aircraft by its emergencies ministry that carried 120 rescue personnel along with supplies, as reported by the state news agency TASS.
The Chinese Embassy shared via a Facebook post that a delegation comprising 37 members has reached Yangon, which is Myanmar’s biggest metropolis. The team brought along medical supplies and gear designed for detecting signs of life.
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