NAIROBI, Kenya – International aid is pouring into Myanmar as rescuers work tirelessly to pull survivors from the rubble following a devastating earthquake that struck on Friday.
With the death toll now at 694 and over 1,670 injured, the numbers are expected to climb further, prompting urgent global assistance.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that casualties could exceed 10,000, with economic losses potentially surpassing Myanmar’s GDP.
With the situation worsening, Myanmar’s military government has called for international aid, and several countries have responded swiftly.
- China dispatched a 37-member rescue team to Yangon on Saturday, equipped with medical supplies and life-detection equipment, according to the Chinese embassy.
- Russia is sending 120 expert rescuers, including doctors and search dogs, reported state news agency TASS.
- The United States has also pledged support, with President Donald Trump stating on Friday that his administration would provide assistance.
With buildings across Myanmar and neighboring Thailand severely damaged, rescuers are in a desperate race against time.
A before-and-after comparison of Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay, Myanmar, following the earthquake. #Mahamuni #Buddha #Temple #myanmarearthquake #earthquake #earthquakemyanmar #Myanmar #Myanmarquake
Mandalay and Bangkok: Search for Survivors Intensifies
Mandalay, the quake’s epicenter, has seen the most destruction, with rescue efforts focused on collapsed buildings trapping scores of people. But the devastation extended beyond Myanmar’s borders.
In Bangkok, Thailand, nearly 1,000 kilometers away, a 33-story construction site crumbled, burying dozens of workers. As of Saturday:
- Nine people were confirmed dead.
- 101 are still missing, mostly laborers.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt assured the public that rescue teams are working round the clock. “We will do everything; we will not give up on saving lives,” he said.
Death toll rises to 144 with 732 injured in Myanmar earthquake. The video shows a massive surface rupture caused by the earthquake, showing the immense power of the event. #Myanmar #earthquake #earthquakemyanmar #Myanmarquake #myanmarearthquake #BreakingNews
Excavators are clearing debris while drones scan for movement beneath the wreckage.
While the immediate priority is search and rescue, the long-term impact of this earthquake is just beginning to take shape.
Experts, including USGS scientist Susan Hough, caution that Myanmar’s mix of modern and traditional structures could influence the survival rate.
Unlike concrete high-rises, traditional wooden homes are less likely to be deadly when collapsing.
Meanwhile, Thai authorities are working to restore normalcy, with reports of hundreds of displaced residents spending nights in city parks.
Chadchart has assured the public that conditions in Bangkok are improving, but the full extent of the damage remains uncertain.
With the world watching, Myanmar and Thailand are in urgent need of international solidarity. The coming days will be critical in determining the scale of loss—and the strength of the global response.
