Myanmar Earthquake Aftermath: Satellite tv for pc Photographs Present Big-Scale Destruction

Naypyidaw:

The stench of decaying lifeless our bodies permeated the air in Mandalay– Myanmar’s second-largest city– on Sunday as rescuers labored frantically to clear rubble within the hope of discovering folks nonetheless alive, two days after an enormous earthquake killed a minimum of 1,700 folks and left numerous others buried. The preliminary 7.7-magnitude quake struck noon Friday with an epicenter close to Mandalay, adopted minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.

The robust tremors downed collapsed buildings, downed bridges, buckled roads and broken different infrastructure within the metropolis of greater than 1.7 million folks. The quake additionally jolted neighbouring Thailand, the place a minimum of 17 in Bangkok.

Most residents in Mandalay spent the evening sleeping on the streets, both left homeless by the quake or anxious that the persevering with aftershocks may trigger buildings left unstable to break down. A 5.1 magnitude aftershock Sunday afternoon prompted screams from these within the streets, after which the work continued.

Satellite tv for pc Photographs Launched

Satellite tv for pc photographs of Myanmar present the aftermath of the earthquake that broken vital infrastructure, together with airports, highways, and bridges, hindering the supply of much-needed humanitarian assist.

This mix of satellite tv for pc photographs taken by 2025 Planet Labs PBC exhibits a view of the management tower at Naypyitaw Worldwide Airport on January 13, 2025, and the collapsed tower on March 29, 2025 (R) [AFP]

Footage from Naypyitaw Worldwide Airport exhibits that its management tower fell attributable to robust jolts. Resulting from injury on the airport, flights carrying rescue groups from India and China needed to land on the airport in Yangon as an alternative of going on to the most important stricken cities of Mandalay and Naypyitaw.

This mix of photographs exhibits the collapsed Anada Pagoda and Pindaya Monastery (prime) after the March 27, 2025, earthquake and the identical space on March 23 (backside) [AFP]

Additionally they present destruction and devastation on the Masoeyein Monastery and surrounding areas, the place historic infrastructure and vegetation have been impacted.

This mix of photographs exhibits the collapsed Inwa Bridge (prime) over the Irrawaddy River after the earthquake, and the identical bridge on March 23 (backside) [AFP]

The Inwa Bridge over the Irrawaddy River close to Mandalay have additionally collapsed, the pictures confirmed.

Aid And Rescue Work Impacted

Aid efforts have been hampered by buckled roads, rails and bridges, spotty communications and the challenges of working in a rustic within the midst of a civil conflict.

The seek for survivors has been primarily performed by the native residents with out the help of heavy gear, shifting rubble by hand and with shovels in 41-degree Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) warmth, with solely the occasional tracked excavator to be seen, in keeping with a report by Related Press.

Quantity Of Deaths Will increase

Myanmar’s ruling junta mentioned in an announcement Sunday afternoon that about 1,700 folks had been confirmed lifeless up to now, about 3,400 injured and round 300 extra lacking.

However the true scale of the catastrophe stays unclear within the remoted military-ruled state, and the toll is anticipated to rise considerably.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing additionally issued an exceptionally uncommon attraction for worldwide assist on Friday, indicating the severity of the calamity. Earlier army governments have shunned international help, even after main pure disasters.

Myanmar has already been ravaged by 4 years of civil conflict sparked by a army coup in 2021. Anti-junta fighters within the nation have declared a two-week partial ceasefire in quake-affected areas beginning Sunday, the shadow “Nationwide Unity Authorities” mentioned in an announcement.

Throughout the border in Thailand, rescuers in Bangkok labored Sunday to pluck out survivors trapped when a 30-storey skyscraper below building collapsed after the Friday earthquake.

A minimum of 17 folks have been killed within the Thai capital, metropolis authorities mentioned on Sunday, with 32 injured and 83 nonetheless lacking.

(With inputs from businesses)