Mandalay, Myanmar (March 30):
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday has left a trail of destruction and death, with the confirmed death toll surpassing 1,600 and countless others feared buried beneath collapsed buildings. As of Sunday, the stench of decaying bodies filled the air in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where desperate survivors used bare hands and makeshift tools in a race against time to find anyone still alive.
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Mandalay, and it struck at midday when offices, markets, and public spaces were bustling. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, with dozens of buildings destroyed and infrastructure, including Mandalay International Airport, suffering major damage.
Emergency relief and rescue efforts have been severely hampered by buckled roads, collapsed bridges, and intermittent communication networks, further worsened by the country’s ongoing civil conflict and political instability. Aid workers and volunteers face daunting challenges accessing the worst-hit areas, where heavy equipment has yet to reach.
Residents describe scenes of chaos and heartbreak, with family members frantically searching through debris for loved ones. Many makeshift relief centers have been set up across Mandalay, but critical supplies like water, medicine, and food remain scarce.
The current humanitarian situation is compounded by Myanmar’s limited disaster response infrastructure and the complex security environment, which makes coordination with international aid agencies extremely difficult.
Seismologists warned of possible aftershocks in the coming days, and authorities have advised people to stay away from weakened buildings. While official figures remain incomplete due to disrupted communication, the death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue in remote and densely populated areas.
