The death toll from a devastating earthquake in Myanmar has surpassed 1,000 as rescue operations continue to expand, reports "Reuters".
The country's military rulers allowed hundreds of foreign rescuers to enter on Saturday after the 7.7-magnitude quake struck the country on Friday, March 28. It is the deadliest natural disaster in Myanmar in decades.
The earthquake destroyed airports, bridges and road infrastructure amid an ongoing civil war that has already destabilized the economy and displaced millions. In neighboring Thailand, the quake shook Bangkok, killing at least nine people and causing a skyscraper under construction to collapse. In Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, survivors tried to pull people out with their bare hands because heavy equipment was lacking and authorities were absent.
Rescue efforts in Bangkok continued at the site of the collapse of the 33-story building, where dozens of people remain missing or trapped. Among them were workers from Myanmar. The U.S. Geological Survey predicted that the death toll in Myanmar could exceed 10,000 and damage could exceed the country's annual gross domestic product.
The leader of Myanmar's military junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, made a rare appeal for international help and visited Mandalay, where the earthquake triggered fires and collapsed buildings. Authorities said rescue efforts would be stepped up and international aid would be coordinated.
According to Myanmar's opposition government of national unity, the quake damaged at least 2,900 buildings, 30 roads and seven bridges.
The international airports in the capital Naypyidaw and Mandalay were closed due to heavy damage, and the control tower at the capital's airport collapsed, rendering it inoperable.
A Chinese rescue team arrived in Yangon and will travel by bus to the affected areas. India, Russia, Malaysia and Singapore also sent planes with humanitarian aid.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said it would support Myanmar with humanitarian aid. South Korea pledged $2 million in aid through international organizations, and China announced a $13.77 million package, including tents, blankets and medical kits. Washington has also said it is ready to provide some assistance, despite tensions with the military regime.
In the affected areas of Myanmar, especially around Mandalay and the Shan Hills, locals continue to search for their loved ones.
Rescuers in Mandalay are struggling with a lack of equipment, vehicles and sufficient personnel. In Bangkok, where the damage is also extensive, rescue teams are using excavators, drones and trained dogs to find those buried in a collapsed skyscraper under construction. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said all possible resources were being used to search for survivors.
According to local authorities in Bangkok, about 5,000 buildings may have been damaged by the quake. Thai engineers are assessing the damage and taking measures to secure dangerous buildings. In Myanmar, however, where the disaster occurred against a backdrop of war and political instability, the scale of the destruction and the lack of a coordinated response threaten to turn the tragedy into an even greater humanitarian catastrophe.