Myanmar, March 29 — Foreign rescue teams began arriving in Myanmar on Saturday to aid in the search for survivors following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that has killed over 1,000 people. The quake crippled infrastructure in the conflict-torn nation, with the death toll surging from 144 to 1,002, according to the military government.
In neighbouring Thailand, at least nine people were killed as the quake rattled Bangkok, bringing down a 33-storey tower under construction. Authorities are scrambling to rescue 30 people trapped under the debris, with 49 still missing.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) warned that Myanmar’s death toll could exceed 10,000, with losses potentially surpassing the nation’s annual economic output. The junta, which rarely calls for international aid, has appealed for assistance, saying the quake damaged roads, bridges, and buildings.
China, Russia, India, Malaysia, and Singapore have dispatched relief supplies and personnel. India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said more aid would follow, while South Korea pledged $2 million in humanitarian support.
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, rescue workers and residents are struggling to pull people from collapsed buildings, hampered by limited machinery. In Yangon, hundreds of kilometers from the epicentre, a Chinese rescue team landed to support relief efforts.
In Bangkok, authorities are using excavators, drones, and search dogs to locate survivors beneath the collapsed tower. At least 15 people have shown signs of life, while relatives anxiously await news. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt vowed to use all resources to save lives.
