Myanmar – A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that rocked Myanmar and Thailand late last week has claimed over 1,600 lives, with rescue teams racing against time to find survivors amid widespread destruction. The quake, which struck on March 28 near Sagaing in central Myanmar, sent shockwaves as far as Bangkok, leaving a trail of collapsed buildings, shattered lives, and a daunting recovery ahead.
The numbers are grim and climbing. Myanmar’s military government reports 1,644 dead, 2,376 injured, and 30 missing as of Sunday, with the toll expected to rise as rescuers dig through rubble in hard-hit cities like Mandalay.
Across the border in Thailand, at least 11 have perished, with 32 injured and 83 still unaccounted for, mostly tied to a high-rise collapse in Bangkok’s bustling Chatuchak district. The aftershock—a 6.4 magnitude jolt just 12 minutes later—only deepened the chaos.
“It’s a race against the clock,” said a Mandalay rescuer, hands caked with dust, speaking to the BBC. “We’re pulling people out with nothing but our bare hands.” In Bangkok, drones buzz overhead and sniffer dogs scour debris, as Thai officials deploy heavy machinery to lift concrete slabs where survivors might still be trapped.
The disaster’s toll is magnified by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, a conflict that’s displaced millions and left the country fractured since a 2021 military coup. With roads blocked and communication lines down, getting a full picture of the damage is near impossible.
The junta claims it’s coordinating aid, but reports of continued airstrikes against rebel groups raise doubts about their focus. Meanwhile, the opposition National Unity Government has called a two-week truce to prioritize relief—a rare pause in the fighting.
Thailand, less accustomed to seismic shocks, is reeling from the unexpected. The Bangkok high-rise, still under construction, wasn’t built to withstand such force, exposing gaps in urban preparedness. “I just want to know if he’s alive,” sobbed a Burmese migrant worker’s wife outside the site, clutching a photo of her missing husband. Stories like hers echo across the region, where families wait in anguish for news.
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Amid the devastation, glimmers of hope emerge. In Mandalay, a woman was pulled alive from a collapsed building after 30 hours, her rescue captured in grainy footage that’s gone viral. In Bangkok, a child’s faint cries led teams to a pocket of survivors late Saturday, fueling efforts to keep going. “Every life we save is a win,” a Thai firefighter told reporters, exhaustion etched on his face.
The international response is ramping up. China and India have dispatched teams, medical supplies, and food to Yangon, while the U.N. scrambles to mobilize resources. “Myanmar was already on its knees,” said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “This quake is a cruel blow.” The U.S. has signaled it’s ready to help, with Senator Marco Rubio tweeting support for “our partners in the region.”
Experts warn the worst may be yet to come. The U.S. Geological Survey’s early models suggest a potential death toll exceeding 10,000, a chilling prospect as remote areas remain cut off. In Myanmar, the combo of war and disaster could stretch recovery timelines for years. Thailand faces a reckoning over building codes and disaster prep, with Bangkok’s skyline now a stark reminder of vulnerability.
For now, the focus is on the living. Rescue crews work through the night, fueled by adrenaline and the faint chance of another miracle. Across borders, a region holds its breath, praying for survivors—and bracing for what’s still to come.
