Myanmar earthquake: Race to seek for survivors continues as UN warns medical provide scarcity is hampering rescue efforts
Welcome again to our reside protection of the aftermath of the lethal Myanmar earthquake which has killed at the very least 1,600 folks and injured over 3,400 others, with at the very least 139 extra lacking.
Rescue efforts are coming into their third day and makes an attempt to search out survivors are intensifying after the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the nation and neighbouring Thailand, the place at the very least 17 folks in Bangkok have died.
The preliminary quake struck close to the central Myanmar metropolis of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, adopted minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.
The tremors collapsed buildings, downed bridges and buckled roads, with mass destruction seen within the metropolis of greater than 1.7 million folks, the nation’s second largest.
The UN has warned that rescue operations are severely hindered by the blocked roads and collapsed buildings, including {that a} lack of medical provides is making the response to the earthquake way more troublesome than it could be in any other case.
Hospitals in components of central and northwestern Myanmar, together with Mandalay and Sagaing, have been struggling to deal with the inflow of injured folks, based on the UN workplace for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA).
“A severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anaesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines, and tents for health workers,” OCHA mentioned in an announcement on Saturday.
Marcoluigi Corsi, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for war-torn Myanmar, mentioned Myanmar had already been “reeling from an alarming humanitarian crisis, largely driven by persistent conflict and recurrent disasters”.
“At this critical time, the people of Myanmar urgently need the steadfast support of the international community,” he added.
Key occasions
5.1 magnitude earthquake hits close to Mandalay in Myanmar, US Geological Survey says
The US Geological Survey (USGS) is reporting {that a} 5.1 magnitude aftershock has hit 28km (17.4 miles) northwest of Mandalay, within the Mattara township, the newest in a string of aftershocks following Friday’s devastating earthquake.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit round Friday afternoon with an epicentre close to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest metropolis, destroying many buildings and damaging different infrastructure like the town’s airport.
Lots of Mandalay’s 1.5 million folks have spent the final two nights sleeping on the streets, both left homeless by the earthquake or apprehensive that the persevering with aftershocks may trigger constructions left unstable to break down.
Individuals screamed within the streets on Sunday when a 5.1 magnitude aftershock hit at 15:38 native time (09:08 GMT), however there have been no quick stories of additional harm, based on the Related Press.
Emergency staff seek for folks trapped below website of collapsed Bangkok constructing
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar, with tremors felt in Thailand, China and India.
In neighbouring Thailand, the earthquake affected the better Bangkok space, dwelling to round 17 million folks, and different components of the nation.
Many locations within the north reported harm, however the one casualties have been reported in Bangkok, which is positioned over 1,000km (621 miles) from the epicentre of Friday’s earthquake.
Rescuers within the Thai capital are persevering with to work to rescue survivors trapped when a 30-storey skyscraper below building close to the well-known Chatuchak market collapsed after Friday’s earthquake. At the very least 12 folks have been confirmed lifeless on the website of the collapsed high-rise constructing and dozens of others reported injured.
Staff on the website of the under-construction state audit workplace’s constructing are utilizing giant mechanical diggers in an try to search out victims nonetheless trapped below the particles.
“We are still trying to get under the rubble because the 30 floors of the building piling up is really difficult to get through,” Thawida Kamolvej, Bangkok’s deputy governor, informed BBC Information .
“We still have 79 missing. I am still confident in my team. We are going to continue working around the clock, we have more people coming in. I have to find them,” she added.
Myanmar earthquake: Race to seek for survivors continues as UN warns medical provide scarcity is hampering rescue efforts
Welcome again to our reside protection of the aftermath of the lethal Myanmar earthquake which has killed at the very least 1,600 folks and injured over 3,400 others, with at the very least 139 extra lacking.
Rescue efforts are coming into their third day and makes an attempt to search out survivors are intensifying after the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the nation and neighbouring Thailand, the place at the very least 17 folks in Bangkok have died.
The preliminary quake struck close to the central Myanmar metropolis of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, adopted minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.
The tremors collapsed buildings, downed bridges and buckled roads, with mass destruction seen within the metropolis of greater than 1.7 million folks, the nation’s second largest.
The UN has warned that rescue operations are severely hindered by the blocked roads and collapsed buildings, including {that a} lack of medical provides is making the response to the earthquake way more troublesome than it could be in any other case.
Hospitals in components of central and northwestern Myanmar, together with Mandalay and Sagaing, have been struggling to deal with the inflow of injured folks, based on the UN workplace for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA).
“A severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anaesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines, and tents for health workers,” OCHA mentioned in an announcement on Saturday.
Marcoluigi Corsi, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for war-torn Myanmar, mentioned Myanmar had already been “reeling from an alarming humanitarian crisis, largely driven by persistent conflict and recurrent disasters”.
“At this critical time, the people of Myanmar urgently need the steadfast support of the international community,” he added.
