Emergency rescue teams have begun arriving in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck near Mandalay, killing more than 1,600 people. However, efforts to provide aid have been severely hampered by collapsed roads, destroyed bridges, and limited communication networks, as the country remains gripped by civil war.
The earthquake, which struck on Friday afternoon, caused widespread destruction, bringing down buildings and damaging key infrastructure, including Mandalay’s airport. Thousands of residents spent the night sleeping on the streets—either displaced by the disaster or fearing further aftershocks that could bring down already weakened structures.
Neighboring Thailand also felt the tremors, with at least 17 people reported dead. On Sunday, panic swept through Mandalay’s 1.5 million residents again when a 5.1 magnitude aftershock hit, sending people screaming into the streets. There were no immediate reports of additional damage from the aftershock.
Authorities fear the death toll could rise further as rescue operations continue. With many roads impassable, emergency teams are struggling to reach some of the worst-affected areas, raising concerns over how soon survivors trapped under debris can be reached.
