Rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors more than three days after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, toppling buildings as far away as Bangkok and sending tremors through nearby Chinese provinces. The first 72 hours following a quake are considered the “golden window” for survival, but with that period now passed, hopes are beginning to fade.
The confirmed death toll has risen to at least 1,700 in Myanmar, making this the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in more than a century. Experts warn the final toll could be far higher, with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimating it may exceed 10,000 as rescue efforts continue. Nearly 3,400 people are reported injured, with 300 still missing.
The quake’s epicenter was in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region, near Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million people. The collapse of a key bridge over the Irrawaddy River has left many in the hardest-hit areas cut off from aid. Historic temples, palaces, and vital infrastructure have suffered extensive damage, leaving thousands displaced and without shelter.
In Bangkok, more than 18 people have died, with dozens still trapped in the rubble of an under-construction high-rise that collapsed during the quake. Rescue teams are searching for around 80 missing individuals as desperate families wait for news.
Amid the devastation, Myanmar’s military junta has issued a rare plea for international assistance. Aid has started arriving from China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Australia, with the UN pledging $5 million in emergency relief. The U.S. has also promised assistance, with President Donald Trump calling the disaster “terrible.”
Efforts to deliver aid face major challenges due to damaged infrastructure and ongoing civil conflict. Communication blackouts, impassable roads, and medical shortages are hampering relief operations, with emergency responders struggling to provide care for the thousands injured.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an urgent appeal for $113 million to support relief efforts over the next two years. “The need for support is urgent,” said Alexander Matheou, regional director for the IFRC.
Seismologists warn that aftershocks could continue for months. The earthquake, which struck along the active Sagaing fault, released energy equivalent to 334 atomic bombs, shifting the earth by up to 16 feet in some areas. Scientists fear that Myanmar’s weakened infrastructure will continue to collapse under the strain of repeated tremors, further endangering survivors and rescue teams alike.
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