A 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has prompted an urgent international response, with the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team arriving in Mandalay early Monday to assist local authorities. The disaster, one of the strongest to hit the region in decades, has claimed over 2,056 lives, injured 3,900, and left 270 missing, according to Myanmar officials.
The 30-member Chinese Red Cross team brings specialized expertise in structure demolition, search and rescue operations, and trauma care. Beyond physical recovery efforts, the group is providing psychological counseling to survivors—a critical service amid widespread displacement and infrastructural damage. Medical transport helicopters, supplied by the team, have begun evacuating critically injured residents from remote areas.
This cross-border cooperation underscores China’s commitment to regional disaster solidarity. The Chinese Red Cross previously supported Myanmar during Cyclone Mocha in 2023, highlighting sustained partnerships in crisis management. Analysts note that such initiatives align with broader Asian efforts to enhance disaster readiness as seismic activity increases in the Indo-Pacific region.
