The aftermath of a strong earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, 2025. MYANMAR RED CROSS SOCIETY

Rescue operations were in full swing on Saturday (March 29) after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake devastated Myanmar and parts of Thailand, leaving over 1,000 people dead and thousands more injured. Emergency teams worked tirelessly to pull survivors from the rubble as international aid began arriving in the worst-hit areas. In Mandalay, the epicenter of the quake, frantic rescue efforts continued through the night. Volunteers and emergency workers used bare hands, crowbars, and bulldozers to search for survivors beneath collapsed buildings, including the historic Ma Soe Yane Monastery and several residential structures. At least 140 Buddhist monks remained trapped in the ruins of a monastery in Amarapura, while entire families were feared buried under fallen homes in Sagaing and Naypyidaw. Hospitals, overwhelmed with over 2,300 injured patients, made urgent pleas for blood donations as supplies ran critically low. “We need more hands, more equipment. We can still hear voices under the debris,” said Tun Win, a volunteer in Mandalay.

Bangkok: High-rise collapse leaves dozens missing

In Bangkok, Thailand, emergency teams worked to free 47 people trapped after a 33-storey building under construction collapsed near the bustling Chatuchak Market. The disaster site, now declared a high-risk zone, remained unstable, hampering rescue efforts. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment when the skyscraper gave way. "We felt the tremors, then suddenly, the building crumbled like a house of cards," said Somchai Pradit, a shopkeeper nearby. Authorities deployed thermal imaging drones and sniffer dogs in an effort to locate survivors in the wreckage, as Thailand’s Prime Minister vowed full support for rescue teams. International rescue teams and aid supplies began arriving as Myanmar’s military-led government struggled to coordinate relief efforts. The UAE and Russia offered logistical support and relief aid, while China sent search-and-rescue teams along with emergency relief supplies. India and Malaysia dispatched medical teams and humanitarian aid, while Taiwan put 120 rescue personnel and six search dogs on standby. South Korea pledged $2 million in emergency assistance. With key transport routes, including a 90-year-old bridge in Sagaing, destroyed, relief efforts faced major logistical challenges. The Mandalay International Airport remained partially closed, now doubling as a makeshift hospital and relief center. As aftershocks continued to rattle the region, fears of further building collapses grew. Authorities urged people to stay away from damaged structures, while engineers assessed the stability of surviving buildings in both Myanmar and Thailand. Despite the devastation, glimmers of hope remained. In Mandalay, an eight-year-old girl was rescued alive from a collapsed home after being trapped for nearly 30 hours. In Bangkok, a construction worker was found conscious beneath the rubble, signaling that more survivors could still be found. “Our teams won’t stop,” said Rescue Chief Nopparat Chaiyanan in Bangkok. “Every minute counts.” With more international aid expected to arrive, rescuers continued the grueling search—determined to save as many lives as possible before time ran out. ICA/MBM/Expat Media
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