Earthquake devastation in Myanmar: Thousands dead or injured
A tragic earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 has struck Myanmar. A pregnant woman, Mathu Thu Lwin, was pulled from the rubble after 50 hours. Unfortunately, she could not be saved and died in hospital due to the severity of her injuries.
What do you need to know?
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 has hit Myanmar, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,700 people. More than 3,400 have been injured.
- Mathu Thu Lwin, a pregnant woman, was rescued from the rubble after 50 hours. Sadly, she died in hospital due to blood loss.
- The tremors were also felt in Thailand, China, and India, where at least 17 people lost their lives.
How did the rescue operation proceed?
On Friday, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale hit Myanmar. As a result, the Sky Villa residential complex in Mandalay collapsed, trapping 35-year-old Mathu Thu Lwin beneath the rubble. Rescuers immediately began their efforts to save her. For many hours, they used various tools 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 debris.
What were the effects of the earthquake?
The earthquake in Myanmar caused widespread devastation. 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 appeal for international humanitarian aid.
A state of emergency has been declared in the six most affected regions of the country: Sikong, Mandalay, Magwe, Northeastern Shan State, Naypyidaw, and Bago. Mandalay, the second-largest city in Burma and nearest to the epicentre, was the most severely affected. The actual number of casualties could be significantly higher.
