Earthquake Aftermath: Myanmar and Thailand Fight for Survivors

After a 7.7-magnitude earthquake, Myanmar and Thailand race to save survivors amid rising death tolls and crumbling infrastructure. Relief efforts intensify.

Earthquake Aftermath: Myanmar and Thailand Fight for Survivors

On a quiet Monday morning, beneath the shattered remnants of the Great Wall Hotel in Mandalay, a woman’s faint cries pierced the heavy silence. Nearly 60 hours after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked central Myanmar, rescuers pulled her free from the rubble—a fragile beacon of hope amid a catastrophe that has claimed over 2,000 lives across Myanmar and Thailand. As the sun rose on March 31, 2025, emergency teams in two nations pressed forward, racing against time and despair to unearth survivors from the wreckage of a disaster that has redefined tragedy in Southeast Asia.

A Region Shaken to Its Core

The earthquake struck at midday on Friday, March 28, its epicenter just 10.3 miles from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. With a shallow depth of 6.2 miles, the quake unleashed a ferocious energy—equivalent, geologists estimate, to over 300 atomic bombs—reverberating across borders. In Myanmar, the toll is staggering: state media reports at least 1,700 dead, while The Wall Street Journal cites 2,028 as of Sunday evening. Over 3,400 were injured, and hundreds remain missing. A powerful 6.4-magnitude aftershock soon followed, compounding the chaos.

More than 1,000 miles away, Bangkok felt the tremors, too. A 33-story skyscraper under construction near Chatuchak Market crumbled, trapping 76 workers beneath its debris. By Sunday, Thailand’s death toll stood at 18, but fears loomed that the number could climb as rescuers dug deeper into the twisted steel and concrete. Across the region, scenes of panic unfolded—thousands fleeing swaying buildings, water sloshing from rooftop pools, and centuries-old pagodas reduced to dust.

This wasn’t just a natural disaster; it was a merciless blow to two nations already wrestling with their burdens. Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, sparked by a 2021 military coup, has left its infrastructure fragile and its people vulnerable. Thailand, less accustomed to seismic upheaval, saw its urban landscape tested in ways it hadn’t anticipated. For both, the road to recovery feels impossibly steep.

A Race Against Time in Mandalay

In Mandalay, the woman’s rescue from the Great Wall Hotel offered a fleeting triumph. The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar shared the news on Facebook, noting her stable condition after being entombed for nearly three days. Yet, for every life saved, countless others hang in the balance. The United Nations estimates that 23,000 survivors in central Myanmar urgently need shelter, food, and medical care. Noriko Takagi, the U.N. refugee agency’s representative in Myanmar, described the Herculean effort underway: “Our teams are scaling up the response despite enduring the trauma themselves. Time is slipping away, and Myanmar needs the world’s support now.”

The city of Sagaing, near the quake’s epicenter, lies in ruins. Resident Thar Nge told Al Jazeera that the air carries the stench of death as bodies decompose in the tropical heat, a grim reminder of the rescue operation’s urgency. Volunteers—many armed with little more than their hands and determination—comb through collapsed homes and temples. “The number of rescue workers isn’t enough,” Thar Nge said. “Forty-eight hours have passed, and we’re still waiting for help.”

Myanmar’s military junta, which has ruled since ousting Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, issued a rare plea for international aid. Nations responded swiftly. India launched “Operation Brahma,” delivering 137 tons of supplies via military aircraft. China sent a 37-person team to Yangon with cutting-edge detection equipment. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia followed suit, funneling resources into a country where damaged bridges, highways, and airports have bottlenecked relief efforts. The United States pledged $2 million through local humanitarian groups, though its USAID team faces constraints amid budget cuts under the Trump administration.

Bangkok’s Desperate Search

In Thailand’s bustling capital, the mood is equally tense. Emergency crews resumed their search at dawn on Monday, sifting through the wreckage of the fallen skyscraper—a joint project between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. The collapse has sparked outrage and scrutiny, with Thai authorities ordering a probe into the building’s structural integrity. Unlike Myanmar, Thailand isn’t a seismic hotspot, and its high-rises aren’t typically engineered for such quakes. The disaster exposed a vulnerability few had considered.

Sage Rich, a Canadian tourist in Chiang Mai, felt the ground sway beneath her at a three-story market. “I sat on the floor, hoping the roof wouldn’t cave in,” she told CBC News. When she reached the street, she saw thousands in distress. “There’s a deep sadness here,” she added. “So many Myanmar workers in Thailand have family ties across the border.” As rescue dogs and K-9 units scour the debris in Bangkok, families like that of a missing construction worker’s mother wait in agony, her cries echoing through the site.

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A Humanitarian Crisis Amplified by Conflict

Myanmar’s plight is uniquely dire. Four years of civil war have displaced over 3.5 million people, crippled the economy, and gutted healthcare systems. The earthquake struck the Sagaing region—a rebel stronghold—where the military junta continues airstrikes despite the disaster. The U.N.’s special rapporteur, Tom Andrews, reported at least three strikes hours after the quake, calling the junta’s actions “inhumane.” Singapore’s foreign minister urged an immediate ceasefire, a sentiment echoed by the rebel National Unity Government (NUG), which announced a two-week pause in offensive operations to aid relief efforts.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies described the devastation as unprecedented in Asia for over a century. Bill McGuire, an earthquake expert at University College London, told France24 that this was likely Myanmar’s strongest quake in 75 years. The U.S. Geological Survey predicts the death toll could surpass 10,000, with economic losses potentially exceeding Myanmar’s annual output—a crushing blow to a nation already on its knees.

Aid is trickling in, but damaged infrastructure hampers delivery. Hospitals in Mandalay and Sagaing report shortages of trauma kits, blood bags, and anesthetics. The European Commission has allocated €2.5 million ($2.7 million) in emergency funds, part of a broader €35 million commitment to Myanmar this year. Yet, experts like Mohamed Riyas of the International Rescue Committee warn it could take weeks to grasp the full scope of destruction, with communication lines down and roads impassable.

Lessons from the Rubble

This earthquake isn’t just a story of loss—it’s a call to rethink preparedness. Myanmar sits on the volatile boundary of the India and Eurasia tectonic plates, making it one of the world’s most seismically active regions. Yet quakes of this magnitude are rare in Sagaing, leaving buildings—and people—unprepared. Thailand’s experience underscores the need for stricter building codes, even in areas deemed low-risk. A 2023 study by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center found that only 30% of Southeast Asia’s urban structures meet modern seismic standards—a statistic now hauntingly relevant.

For readers in the U.S., this disaster hits close to home. Natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires remind us of nature’s unpredictability, but Myanmar’s compounded crisis—war, poverty, and now this—offers a sobering contrast. It’s a reminder to support global relief efforts, whether through donations to organizations like the Red Cross or advocacy for international aid. Every contribution counts when seconds mean survival.

A Fragile Hope Endures

As the dust settles over Mandalay and Bangkok, the human spirit flickers amid the ruins. The woman pulled from the Great Wall Hotel embodies that resilience—a testament to the courage of survivors and the tenacity of those who search for them. Yet, the road ahead is long. Myanmar and Thailand face not just rebuilding homes but mending lives torn apart by forces both natural and man-made.

For now, the world watches and responds. This isn’t just a regional tragedy; it’s a global challenge to unite in the face of suffering. Whether it’s sending aid, demanding peace, or learning from this catastrophe, we all have a role to play. Because in the end, beneath the rubble, it’s not just survivors we’re seeking—it’s hope itself.

Source:  (Reuters)

(Disclaimer:  This article is based on available data as of March 31, 2025, and reflects the most current information from credible sources. Details may evolve as rescue efforts and investigations continue. For the latest updates, consult reputable news outlets or official statements from involved governments and organizations.)

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