Chongqing - Foreign rescue teams and aid supplies have arrived in Myanmar to help the country recover from a catastrophic 7.9-magnitude earthquake that has claimed around 1,700 lives and left thousands injured, with fears that the death toll could rise significantly.
China Blue Sky Rescue reported from the Myanmar earthquake site that, after hours of effort, a trapped pregnant woman was safely rescued despite being pinned under multiple bodies. She received immediate medical aid and was sent to the hospital while the team continued rescue operations at multiple locations.
On March 29, Bridging News interviewed Henry, a staff member at Myanmar First Financial Group in Yangon, who joined the conversation from his office, which remains intact.
On March 29, Bridging News interviewed Henry, a staff member at Myanmar First Financial Group in Yangon, who joined the conversation from his office, which remains intact.
Henry shared that the earthquake struck around 12:50 PM local time while he and his colleagues were preparing for lunch. Suddenly, he felt dizzy. Looking out the window, he saw office lights shaking and people rushing downstairs in panic.
He confirmed that Yangon is now safe but reported that his friends in Mandalay are suffering greatly, with some having lost relatives in the disaster.
Henry also noted that all services, including power and water, were disrupted following the earthquake. “The only service still functioning in Mandalay right now is Mytel. Other services like MPT, Telenor, and Atom Ooredoo are unavailable,” he said.
Reflecting on Myanmar’s ongoing challenges, Henry added, “Myanmar has been suffering due to the ongoing conflict, with many lives lost. I believe it’s time for us to unite, fight our common enemies, and help each other.”
The earthquake hit the Southeast Asian country on Friday, with Mandalay, Bago, Magway, the northeastern Shan state, Sagaing, and Nay Pyi Taw among the hardest-hit regions.
As of 2:30 PM on the 30th, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed 14 Chinese citizens were injured in the earthquake. Embassy staff will visit those transferred from Mandalay to Yangon General Hospital for treatment.
(Huan Ran, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)
