Myanmar Earthquake: Rescuers Pull Man Alive from Rubble as Calls Grow for Junta to Allow More Aid and Halt Attacks on Rebels
MANDALAY: Rescuers on Wednesday pulled a man alive from the rubble five days after Myanmar’s devastating earthquake, as calls grew for the junta to allow more aid in and halt attacks on rebels.
The Shallow 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake
The shallow 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday flattened buildings across Myanmar, killing more than 2,700 people and making thousands more homeless. Several leading armed groups fighting the military have suspended hostilities during the quake recovery, but junta chief Min Aung Hlaing vowed to continue "defensive activities" against "terrorists".
UN Agencies and Rights Groups Urge Ceasefire
UN agencies, rights groups, and foreign governments have urged all sides in Myanmar’s civil war to stop fighting and focus on helping those affected by the quake, the biggest to hit the country in decades. Hopes of finding more survivors are fading, but there was a moment of joy on Wednesday as a man was pulled alive from the ruins of a hotel in the capital Naypyidaw.
Call for Peace
Min Aung Hlaing said Tuesday that the death toll had risen to 2,719, with more than 4,500 injured and 441 still missing. But with patchy communication and infrastructure delaying efforts to gather information and deliver aid, the true scale of the disaster has yet to become clear, and the toll is likely to rise. Relief groups say that that response has been hindered by continued fighting between the junta and the complex patchwork of armed groups opposed to its rule, which began in a 2021 coup.
Ethnic Minority Groups Announce Ceasefire
Late Tuesday, an alliance of three of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic minority armed groups announced a one-month pause in hostilities to support humanitarian efforts in response to the quake. The announcement by the Three Brotherhood Alliance followed a separate partial ceasefire called by the People’s Defence Force — civilian groups that took up arms after the coup to fight junta rule.
Thailand Toll Rises
Hundreds of kilometres (miles) away, in the Thai capital Bangkok, workers continued to scour a pile of rubble that formed when Friday’s tremors collapsed a 30-storey skyscraper. The structure had been under construction at the time, and its crash buried dozens of builders – few of whom have come out alive. The death toll at the site has risen to 22, with more than 70 still believed trapped in the rubble.
Conclusion
The Myanmar earthquake has left a trail of destruction and death, and it is crucial that the junta and armed groups put aside their differences and work together to provide aid and relief to those affected. The international community must also play a role in supporting the people of Myanmar during this difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
A: The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7.
Q: How many people have been killed in the disaster?
A: The death toll has risen to 2,719, with more than 4,500 injured and 441 still missing.
Q: Have any armed groups suspended hostilities during the quake recovery?
A: Yes, several leading armed groups fighting the military have suspended hostilities during the quake recovery.
Q: What is the current situation in Thailand?
A: The death toll in Thailand has risen to 22, with more than 70 still believed trapped in the rubble of a collapsed skyscraper.