A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw on Friday, leaving buildings damaged and residents in shock as one of the strongest tremors to hit Southeast Asia this decade. Survivors shared harrowing accounts of collapsing structures and chaotic evacuations during interviews with international media, highlighting the urgent need for medical supplies and rebuilding assistance.
"The ground shook violently – we barely escaped before the roof caved in," recounted Ko Myint, a grocery store owner whose family spent the night in a makeshift tent. Local authorities reported at least 12 confirmed fatalities and hundreds injured, with numbers expected to rise as remote areas are surveyed.
The quake's economic impact has drawn attention from regional investors, with early estimates suggesting $200 million in infrastructure damage. International humanitarian organizations are coordinating with Myanmar's disaster management teams to deliver emergency kits and establish temporary shelters, though landslides and damaged roads complicate relief efforts.
For Myanmar's diaspora communities, the catastrophe has spurred fundraising campaigns across Europe and North America. "We're mobilizing through cultural associations to ensure aid reaches vulnerable groups directly," said London-based community organizer Daw Khin Zaw Win.
