Earthquake in Myanmar claims 1,700 lives; aid urgently needed
A tragic earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 occurred in Myanmar. A pregnant woman, Mathu Thu Lwin, was pulled from the rubble after 50 hours. Unfortunately, she could not be saved and died in the hospital. Her injuries were too severe.
What you need to know
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck Myanmar, resulting in the death of at least 1,700 people. More than 3,400 people were injured.
- Mathu Thu Lwin, a pregnant woman, was pulled from the rubble after 50 hours. She died in the hospital due to blood loss.
- The tremors were also felt in Thailand, China, and India, where at least 17 people died.
How did the rescue operation proceed?
On Friday, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 hit Myanmar. As a result, the Sky Villa residential complex in Mandalay collapsed, where 35-year-old Mathu Thu Lwin was trapped under the rubble. Rescuers immediately launched a rescue operation. For many hours, using various tools, specialists tried to reach the trapped woman.
"We tried everything to save her," said one of the rescuers. However, Lwin lost too much blood due to a necessary leg amputation during her extraction from the rubble.
What were the effects of the earthquake?
The earthquake in Myanmar caused massive destruction. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 had its epicentre in Myanmar (Burma), but the tremors were also felt in neighbouring countries. The military junta has made a rare request for international humanitarian aid.
A state of emergency has been declared in the six most affected regions of the country: Sikong, Mandalay, Magwe, the northeastern Shan State, Naypyidaw, and Bago. The city of Mandalay, the second-largest city in Burma, which was closest to the epicentre, suffered the most devastation. The number of victims could be much higher.
