Over 1,000 Killed In Myanmar, India Sends Relief Materials To Myanmar
Day after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, rescuers have been working tirelessly through the rubble with their bare hands, frantically searching for survivors in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city and the epicentre of the quake. Over 1,000 people have been killed.
The quake was so powerful that even Bangkok, located 900 kilometres away, felt its impact, causing the collapse of several iconic structures and bridges. Strong tremors were also felt in parts of India, including Meghalaya and Manipur, as well as in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka and Chattogram, and in China. Myanmar’s state media on Friday announced that the death toll has jumped to 1,002 while 2,376 have been injured after yesterday’s earthquake.
Harrowing details of the devastation are emerging as survivors recount their tales of horror from yesterday’s incident. One survivor from Myanmar told the media how he was pulled out of the rubble after the earthquake struck while he was in the washroom. As he and others rushed for shelter in another building, another earthquake hit, causing that building to collapse as well. He said his grandmother, aunt, and uncles are still missing, adding that their chances of survival are zero.
After PM Modi declared that India is ready to offer assistance, India sent 15 tonnes of relief materials, including solar lamps, food packets and kitchen sets, to Myanmar on an IAF C 130 J aircraft. Calling it ‘Operation Brahma,’ Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, India acts as a First Responder to assist the people of Myanmar affected by yesterday’s massive earthquake.
Bangkok authorities on Saturday said that they have received 2,000 reports of structural cracks in buildings across the city. In a statement, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said: dsespite the collapse of one under-construction building, no completed buildings have suffered structural failure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he had reached out to Myanmar’s junta chief, Senior General H.E. Min Aung Hlaing, and conveyed our deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. PM Modi further stated that, as part of Operation Brahma, Indian officials and rescue teams on the ground are ensuring that relief materials are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas.
The Thai government declared a state of emergency in the capital, Bangkok. At least 10 people have died, and 100 construction workers went missing after an unfinished skyscraper collapsed in Bangkok on Friday. Giving an update on the rescue operations, Bangkok governor said that the rescue team had detected vital signs from 15 individuals still trapped. No delays, no stops – every second counts in saving lives, Chadchart Sittipunt said.
US President vowed to send assistance to earthquake-hit Myanmar. The budget cuts have stalled humanitarian work worldwide. USAID has historically played a key role in disaster relief efforts. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Friday warned that the earthquake may have caused “high casualties and extensive damage,” with the death toll potentially exceeding 10,000. Myanmar, a country ravaged by years of civil war, is facing an acute power and water crisis following the earthquake. In a rare global appeal, Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, has requested assistance.