Desperate rescuers in Myanmar’s cultural capital, Mandalay, scrambled to save survivors trapped under collapsed buildings after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the region on Friday. With over 1,600 confirmed dead and thousands injured, exhausted teams pleaded for reinforcements as hopes of finding more survivors dimmed.
The shallow quake flattened entire neighborhoods, reducing high-rises like the Sky Villa Condominium to twisted rubble. At least 90 people were feared buried in the 12-story complex, now crushed to half its height. Amid the wreckage, a woman’s lifeless arm dangled from the debris—a grim reminder of the scale of the tragedy.
After 30 grueling hours, rescuers pulled Phyu Lay Khaing from the ruins alive, sparking rare cheers. Her husband, Ye Aung, who had waited in agony, collapsed in relief. “I didn’t think she’d survive,” he said, clutching their two young sons. But such victories were few. With power outages hampering efforts, teams relied on hand tools and shouts to locate survivors.
Also read:Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 1,644 as rescue operations continue
A rescuer, speaking anonymously, described horrific scenes: bodies piled into light trucks, families sleeping on streets, and a critical shortage of equipment. “We haven’t slept. We’re using our bare hands,” he said. The junta, in a rare move, appealed for international aid—a stark admission of a healthcare system crippled by years of civil war.
Mandalay residents like Ba Chit, 55, counted themselves lucky but mourned their city. “I’ve never seen such destruction,” he said. As night fell again, thousands prepared to sleep outdoors, their homes reduced to rubble and their futures uncertain. With the toll expected to rise, Myanmar faces one of its worst disasters in decades.
