Chongqing - A magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, with a focal depth of 30 kilometers. Strong tremors were felt in Yangon, the country's largest city, and across the nation.

On the morning of March 29, at around 8:35 a.m., a 37-member Chinese rescue medical team from Yunnan departed from Kunming Changshui International Airport, arrived at Yangon International Airport, and headed to the earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar. They carried essential emergency supplies, including life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellites, drones, and other rescue equipment.

Bridging News has learned that the Chongqing Blue Sky Rescue Team is on standby, ready to leave anytime to assist with earthquake relief efforts.  In an interview, Andrew William, Assistant to the CEO of Chongqing Myanmar Group, who was in Yangon during the earthquake, said, "The shaking was terrible."

William said that in Yangon, the earthquake shook apartments, buildings, and cars, but the impact was less severe compared to Mandalay and Naypyidaw, where the tremors were much stronger and caused significant damage.

Mandalay, one of the cities closest to the epicenter, has become one of the most heavily affected areas. Several buildings collapsed, trapping people inside because they didn’t have time to escape. Local news reports show that many are desperately searching for their families, but some still can’t locate their loved ones or even their bodies. 

"I heard the news that a tower in Mandalay International Airport collapsed, and nobody escaped from the tower," Andrew said. The collapse caused all flights to be canceled at the airport. States of emergency were declared in the Sagaing and Magway regions, northeastern Shan State, and the cities of Mandalay and Naypyidaw.

Mandalay, with a population of over 1.7 million, is Myanmar’s second-largest city. It is the economic and population center of central Myanmar, after Yangon, and plays a key role in transportation. Located just over 500 kilometers from Ruili in China’s Yunnan Province, Mandalay is home to many Chinese, particularly those involved in the jade business.

Buildings collapsed in Mandalay Province, Myanmar, due to the earthquake on March 28. (Photo/Xinhua)

"It's very hard," William said. He shared that he heard some of his friends' homes were destroyed and expressed concern for their well-being.

The powerful earthquake has shaken a vast region of Southeast Asia, causing fatalities and destruction hundreds of miles from its epicenter. A video showing a building under construction collapsing in Bangkok, with people fleeing to escape clouds of dust and debris, went viral on social media.

According to China National Radio, the Myanmar government has confirmed that the earthquake has resulted in 144 fatalities and 732 injuries nationwide, though no Chinese casualties have been reported so far. The full scale of the disaster is still unfolding as authorities continue rescue and recovery efforts.