Buildings continue to collapse in Myanmar 5 days after earthquake

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake has so far killed more than 3,000 people and injured thousands more, according to Myanmar’s military government. Hundreds of people are still missing, leaving the death toll likely to rise.

On Wednesday, Myanmar's Fire Service shared emotional video footage of the moment rescue workers in the capital Naypyidaw pulled a man from the rubble after more than 100 hours, offering a rare ray of hope amid the disaster.

A building collapsed after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. Photo: GI

The man looked exhausted as he was pulled from a gap between broken concrete slabs, to the applause of onlookers. A day earlier, a 62-year-old woman was also rescued from the rubble in Naypyidaw.

Elsewhere, a Chinese rescue team pulled four people – including a 5-year-old girl and a pregnant woman – from the rubble on Monday.

Aftershocks linger, danger not over

Structurally weak buildings continued to collapse as aftershocks continued, making rescue efforts more dangerous, rights groups said. Two hotels near the epicenter in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-most populous city, collapsed on Monday night as residents returned after days of evacuation.

“These aftershocks continue to cause casualties,” said Michael Dunford, Myanmar country director for the United Nations World Food Programme. “Many people are sleeping outdoors because they are too scared to return to their homes. This also makes it more difficult to reach them and provide assistance.”

Humanitarian organizations continue to appeal for urgent aid, especially in remote areas. Even before the disaster, four years of civil war had left millions of people homeless and severely damaged health systems and infrastructure.

In Sagaing town, near the epicentre, residents described heartbreaking scenes as they waited for food and medical supplies. Amnesty International said there was a high demand for body bags, flashlights and mosquito repellent.

Soldiers have stepped up surveillance of vehicles moving from Mandalay to Sagaing. Myanmar’s military government has vowed to allow aid in, but has been criticized by human rights groups for restricting access to some affected areas.

A major rebel alliance in Myanmar has declared a temporary ceasefire to support earthquake relief efforts. The Three Brothers Alliance, made up of three armed groups, has called for a rapid deployment of humanitarian operations.

International aid pours in to Myanmar but funding remains lacking

International organizations, including groups from China, Russia and Pakistan, are also assisting in relief efforts in Myanmar. Two Indian naval ships carrying humanitarian aid, supplies and food arrived at the port of Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, on Tuesday morning.

However, aid workers warn that years of underfunding require more efforts.

"Frankly, this is the moment when the world needs to act and support the people of Myanmar," said the UN humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, Marcoluigi Corsi.

"Myanmar is not currently ranked among the top priorities of global emergency crises... Humanitarian assistance in Myanmar has been underfunded for years. In the first four months of this year, we received less than 5% of the $1.1 billion in humanitarian assistance planned."

Ha Trang (according to TOI, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cac-toa-nha-o-myanmar-tiep-tuc-sup-do-5-ngay-sau-tran-dong-dat-post341171.html