The death toll from Myanmar's devastating earthquake has reached 1,644, according to the country’s military government. However, officials and rescue organizations warn that the actual number could be much higher as search and rescue operations continue across the affected regions. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, on Friday afternoon, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Buildings, roads, and power lines were reduced to rubble, complicating rescue efforts as thousands remain missing or trapped.
A City in Crisis
Mandalay, home to about 1.5 million people, bore the brunt of the disaster. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, and hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured. Long queues formed outside medical facilities as patients with broken bones and head injuries waited for treatment. Rescue teams and volunteers have been digging through debris with their bare hands in search of survivors.
“We don’t have enough heavy machinery,” said Ko Thien Win, a volunteer who rushed to a collapsed building in Mandalay. “Yesterday we found some survivors, but today the chances are much lower.”
Authorities fear the number of fatalities will rise sharply in the coming days. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has modeled potential casualty figures and warned that the number of deaths could surpass 10,000 as more bodies are recovered from the wreckage.
Political and Logistical Challenges in Aid Distribution
Despite the dire need for assistance, delivering aid to affected areas has proven difficult due to Myanmar’s ongoing political instability. The military junta, which took control in a coup in 2021, has faced international sanctions and remains largely isolated from the global community. However, the severity of the earthquake prompted the junta to issue a rare appeal for international aid.
China and Russia were among the first to respond, with Beijing sending a 37-member search-and-rescue team and Moscow dispatching two planes carrying 120 rescue workers. India, which maintains a cautious relationship with Myanmar’s leadership, delivered 15 tons of relief supplies, including a mobile hospital with 118 medical specialists. The European Union also pledged emergency aid worth $2.7 million, though it remains unclear how this assistance will be distributed given the complex political situation in the country.
Survivors Struggle to Cope
For many survivors, the aftermath of the earthquake has been just as harrowing as the disaster itself. Long lines formed at gas stations as residents stocked up on fuel, preparing for prolonged power outages. The scarcity of clean water and food has heightened fears of a secondary humanitarian crisis.
“I lost my home, my family, and now I don’t even know where I will get my next meal,” said Aung Min, a resident of Mandalay, whose house was reduced to rubble.
Adding to the hardship, the military has continued its attacks on rebel-held areas despite the natural disaster. On Friday evening, junta forces bombed a village controlled by resistance fighters. Although no casualties were reported, the attack left residents shaken.
“I just can’t believe they did airstrikes at the same time as the earthquake,” said Lway Yal Oo, a resident of the bombed village.
Desperate Search for Loved Ones
Stories of personal tragedy have emerged across the country. Su Wai Lin, six months pregnant, managed to escape with her mother-in-law when the earthquake hit. However, her husband ran back into their apartment to save an elderly neighbor. The building collapsed before he could make it out.
“I can’t put into words the pain I feel,” she said through tears. “My child will be born without a father.”
Similarly, Tay Zar Lin, who was picking mangoes when the quake struck, fell from a tree and broke his leg. When he arrived at Mandalay’s overcrowded hospital, no doctors were available. He waited in pain for hours before receiving treatment. Later, he learned that his wife was trapped under the ruins of the tailor shop where she worked.
“I don’t know if she’s alive or not,” he said. “I pray that yesterday morning wasn’t the last time I saw her.”
International Response and Aid Complications
The earthquake has further complicated Myanmar’s already fragile humanitarian situation. Humanitarian organizations, stretched thin by crises in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, are struggling to provide adequate support.
“In any earthquake scenario, access is always difficult,” said Ciarán Donnelly, vice president of the International Rescue Committee. “That’s even more so the case in a conflict situation in a country with very poor infrastructure.”
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has mobilized over 6,400 local volunteers, but challenges remain due to downed power lines and damaged roads. Myanmar’s only major international airport was closed temporarily due to structural damage, slowing the delivery of aid.
Destruction of Historic and Religious Sites
Beyond human casualties, Myanmar’s rich cultural heritage has also suffered. The earthquake destroyed several ancient Buddhist temples, pagodas, and mosques, some dating back centuries. The Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, one of Mandalay’s most revered religious sites, partially collapsed, leaving thousands devastated.
Rebel Groups Mobilize to Help
In a rare display of unity, some of Myanmar’s rebel groups, who have been fighting against the military regime, have paused their offensives to assist in relief efforts. In Sagaing, a region at the heart of the resistance, rebel fighters have been using elephants to clear roads and transport supplies to hard-to-reach villages.
“Our people are suffering, and we will do whatever it takes to help,” said a spokesperson for the National Unity Government, Myanmar’s shadow government in exile.
As Myanmar grapples with the aftermath of its worst earthquake in decades, the challenges ahead remain daunting. With rescue operations still ongoing, the full scale of the devastation is yet to be realized. Meanwhile, survivors must navigate not only the immediate dangers of aftershocks and structural collapses but also the long-term consequences of displacement, food shortages, and an uncertain political future.
The people of Myanmar are resilient, but they face a daunting road to recovery. How the military government handles this crisis could have lasting implications for both its grip on power and its relationship with the international community.
For now, the priority remains saving as many lives as possible—before it’s too late.