Rescuers Hunt for Survivors Following Deadly Earthquake in Myanmar

Naypyidaw (Eurotoday) – More than two days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, search and rescue teams are racing against time to locate survivors. The tremor led to the collapse of structures as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, and was felt across neighboring Chinese provinces.

Authorities confirm that more than 1,600 people have lost their lives in what is being described as the worst earthquake to hit the conflict-ridden country in over 100 years. Experts warn, however, that the final toll may take weeks to determine as rescue operations continue and communications remain limited.

Widespread devastation has been reported, with buildings and bridges brought down across Myanmar and parts of Thailand. In Bangkok, authorities are working to extract workers and residents feared trapped beneath the rubble of an under-construction high-rise.

The quake’s epicenter was identified in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region, near the historic city of Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million people and known for its ancient temples and royal palaces.

Friday’s quake marked the deadliest natural disaster Myanmar has experienced in recent years. The disaster struck a country already struggling with civil conflict that has severely disrupted telecommunications, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and left millions in need of food and shelter since 2021.

How many people died in the Myanmar earthquake?

Myanmar’s military-run state television reported over 1,600 deaths and around 3,400 injuries. Nearly 140 people remain missing, and officials expect the numbers to rise. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) projects that the final death toll could surpass 10,000, based on early damage modeling.

Where was the epicenter of the earthquake?

Although the epicenter was in central Myanmar, the effects were felt hundreds of miles away. In Bangkok, at least 17 deaths have been confirmed, including 10 individuals who were killed when a partially completed building collapsed. Seven other fatalities were reported throughout the Thai capital.

Bangkok rescue teams are still working to locate over 80 people who remain unaccounted for at the collapsed site. On Sunday, the city’s governor reported nearly 9,500 claims of building damage, though beyond the collapsed tower, most were considered minor.

Myanmar’s earthquake was the nation’s strongest since 1912, when a 7.9-magnitude quake hit the area around Taunggyi, in central Myanmar. Dozens of aftershocks have occurred since Friday — the largest measuring 6.7 in magnitude, according to the USGS.

What caused this earthquake’s destruction?

Although Myanmar lies within a known seismic zone, large earthquakes typically occur in more remote parts of the country. This time, densely populated regions were directly affected.

According to both the USGS and Germany’s GFZ geoscience center, the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Shallow earthquakes generally cause more surface-level damage. One geologist compared the energy release to that of roughly 334 atomic bombs, noting that aftershocks could persist for months.

Scientists attribute the quake to activity along the Sagaing fault line, a strike-slip fault that runs from north to south through Myanmar. Brian Baptie, a seismologist with the British Geological Survey, explained that the quake caused horizontal ground displacement of up to five meters (16.4 feet) in