Myanmar Earthquake: Survivor Rescued After Five Days as Death Toll Rises
Rescue teams in Mandalay pulled a man alive from the rubble on Wednesday, five days after a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar. Meanwhile, calls for the military-led government to allow more humanitarian aid and cease attacks on rebel groups continue to grow.
Devastating Impact of the Earthquake
The 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck on Friday, caused widespread destruction across Myanmar, killing over 2,800 people and leaving thousands without shelter.
According to Myanmar state television MRTV, the official death toll has risen to 2,886, with 4,639 individuals injured and 373 reported missing as of Wednesday morning.
Military Continues Operations Amidst Crisis
While several armed groups opposing the government have declared a temporary ceasefire to focus on relief efforts, the ruling junta, led by Min Aung Hlaing, has stated that military operations will continue. This stance has drawn criticism from international organizations due to reports of airstrikes carried out in the aftermath of the disaster.
UN agencies, human rights groups, and foreign governments have urged all parties involved in Myanmar’s civil war to halt hostilities and prioritize humanitarian aid for those affected by the earthquake—the most severe to hit the nation in decades.
Hope Amidst Tragedy: Survivor Rescued
Rescue teams experienced a moment of relief on Wednesday when they successfully extracted a survivor from the ruins of a collapsed hotel in Naypyidaw. The 26-year-old hotel worker was rescued shortly after midnight by a joint Myanmar-Turkish team.
A video shared by the Myanmar Fire Services Department captured the moment the man, dazed and covered in dust but conscious, was carefully pulled from the debris and placed on a stretcher.
Aid Efforts Hampered by Conflict
With infrastructure damage and poor communication networks delaying aid distribution, the full extent of the destruction remains uncertain, and the death toll is expected to rise.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported severe damage in Sagaing, stating that local rescue teams estimate one in three houses in the city has collapsed. WHO also highlighted that hospitals, already strained due to the civil war, are struggling to cope with the large influx of injured victims, while essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine are running low.
Sagaing has been a hotspot of intense fighting in Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, and media access to the region remains limited.
Calls for Ceasefire and Humanitarian Focus
Relief organizations assert that continued fighting between the military and opposition forces is obstructing emergency response efforts.
Julie Bishop, the UN special envoy for Myanmar, urged all sides to prioritize civilian safety and facilitate the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid. Even before the earthquake, the UN estimated that 3.5 million people had been displaced due to ongoing violence, with many facing severe food insecurity.
Ceasefires Declared but Airstrikes Continue
On Tuesday, the Three Brotherhood Alliance—a coalition of three of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic armed groups—announced a one-month pause in fighting to support relief operations. This follows an earlier partial ceasefire declaration by the People’s Defence Force, a civilian resistance group formed after the military coup in 2021.
However, reports of junta-led airstrikes on rebel positions persist, raising concerns about Myanmar’s commitment to humanitarian efforts.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing defended the continued military actions, claiming that some armed groups were using the ceasefire period to reorganize and prepare for future attacks.
The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, condemned the military’s justification for ongoing strikes, calling them “outrageous and indefensible.” International leaders, including Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have urged Myanmar’s military to cease hostilities and allow unhindered humanitarian access.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsened by Military Actions
Amnesty International criticized the military for undermining relief efforts, stating that it is impossible to seek aid while simultaneously carrying out attacks. “You cannot ask for aid with one hand and bomb with the other,” remarked Joe Freeman, a researcher specializing in Myanmar.
Earthquake’s Impact Extends to Thailand
The earthquake’s devastation was not limited to Myanmar. In Bangkok, Thailand, rescue workers continue efforts to locate survivors in the debris of a collapsed 30-story building that was under construction at the time of the quake.
The death toll at the site has risen to 22, with more than 70 people still believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
