A devastating earthquake, the strongest to hit Myanmar in over a century, has left thousands dead and injured, with rescue teams from across Asia racing against time to find survivors. The 7.6-magnitude quake struck Friday, collapsing buildings and infrastructure while triggering landslides in mountainous regions. Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, declared a state of emergency, calling for urgent international aid to address what he described as an 'unprecedented humanitarian crisis.'
China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam swiftly mobilized rescue teams, with China’s Blue Sky Rescue (BSR) arriving Sunday in Mandalay to begin damage assessments. A 37-member team from southwest China’s Yunnan Province reached Nay Pyi Taw — one of the hardest-hit areas — on Saturday, deploying advanced life-detection equipment and drones to locate survivors trapped under debris.
Global seismic agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey, warn the death toll could exceed 10,000 as remote villages remain cut off by damaged roads. International organizations are coordinating relief efforts, while analysts highlight the disaster’s potential economic ripple effects across Southeast Asia.
