Pregnant woman rescued in Myanmar after 60‑hour ordeal
The Chinese embassy in Myanmar reported a successful rescue operation. A pregnant woman was rescued from the rubble of a hotel in Mandalay after 60 hours.
The Chinese embassy in Myanmar announced the success of a five-hour rescue operation, during which a pregnant woman was pulled from the debris of a collapsed hotel in Mandalay. The woman spent 60 hours under the rubble, and her health condition was described as good. A Chinese search and rescue team operated alongside a civilian rescue team.
Earthquake in Southeast Asia
The earthquake that struck Southeast Asia on 28 March led to the deaths of approximately 1,720 people, with 1,700 in Myanmar and 20 in Thailand. In Bangkok, thousands were evacuated from damaged buildings. In Myanmar, where a civil war is ongoing, concerns have been raised about the possible concealment of the accurate scale of the tragedy.
The tremors were also felt in India, Laos, and China, although no severe damage or casualties were reported. The epicentre was located near the Myanmar-Thailand border, at a depth of about 10 kilometres, which intensified the quake's impact in the region. Humanitarian organisations are raising alarms that access to affected towns is hindered due to destroyed infrastructure and military control over some areas impacted by the disaster.
Rescue operations in Myanmar
Bangkok Mayor Chadchart Sittipunt assured rescuers would continue their efforts beyond 72 hours after the earthquake. In Thailand, the search is ongoing for nearly 80 workers who went missing following the collapse of a high-rise building in Bangkok.
In Myanmar, where the junta has declared a week of mourning, the flow of information is restricted. Global media mainly rely on eyewitness accounts. Despite the mourning, the junta continues airstrikes on rebel positions.
