A catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, unleashing devastation that claimed the lives of more than 140 people and left vast swaths of destruction in its aftermath. The powerful tremor struck near Mandalay around midday, triggering chaos as homes crumbled, infrastructure was reduced to rubble, and terrified residents poured into the streets. The quake’s shockwaves were so intense they extended beyond Myanmar’s borders, reaching neighboring Thailand, where a partially constructed skyscraper collapsed. Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city and a vital cultural hub, bore the brunt of the quake’s wrath, with the historic township of Amarapura suffering heartbreaking damage. A local rescue worker, visibly shaken, reported recovering 30 bodies from the wreckage of fallen apartment blocks. “Our town looks like a fallen kingdom,” one survivor lamented.
“I’ve never seen anything like this.” An estimated one-fifth of the region’s homes were destroyed. Calls for help flooded in from trapped survivors, but overwhelmed emergency crews struggled to respond due to scarce resources. Despite that, their determination remained unwavering. The initial quake was followed by a violent aftershock and several moderate tremors, further deepening the crisis. Myanmar's military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, warned of a likely increase in the death toll and appealed for internal assistance, stating that any international aid would be welcomed. From across the Pacific, then U.S. President Donald Trump pledged American support, affirming, “We’re going to be helping.” Despite recent cutbacks to USAID programs, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that disaster response teams were on standby, ready to deliver vital supplies such as food and clean water, assuring the public that “our capacity to respond remains intact.” Meanwhile, in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, the secondary effects of the disaster were evident—nine people were confirmed dead after a tower block collapsed, with rescue teams frantically combing through debris. Back in Mandalay, even sacred and historical landmarks weren’t spared. Rescue teams worked desperately to free monks trapped beneath the ruins of the Faton Monastery. Local media reported widespread damage to homes, bridges, and roads, while state-run MRTV confirmed at least 144 deaths and 732 injuries. The earthquake struck a nation already grappling with political instability, complicating rescue efforts. Ongoing conflict between the ruling military junta and insurgent groups created dangerous logistical hurdles. Nonetheless, spokesperson Zen Marong of the anti-junta movement vowed that the People's Defense Forces would extend humanitarian aid, setting aside political divisions in the face of human tragedy. Eyewitnesses described the horror vividly: “When the ground began shaking, we all ran,” recalled a Mandalay resident. “I watched a five-story building collapse in front of me. No one dares to go back inside.” In Pyinmana, near the capital Naypyidaw, the humanitarian group MOSTAN reported recovering 60 bodies from destroyed monasteries and buildings. Naypyidaw itself was not spared, with a major hospital sustaining structural cracks and roads splitting with deep fissures. A U.S. government analysis warned of potential casualties in the thousands and severe economic fallout, particularly across the Sagaing and Myitkyina regions. State media broadcast harrowing images of twisted infrastructure, including the collapse of the iconic Ava Bridge spanning the Ayeyarwady River. The devastation spread across Mandalay, with entire neighborhoods such as Sintpan engulfed in flames. Electricity was cut, phone lines went silent, and roads were rendered impassable. “Our city is broken,” whispered a Mandalay resident, staring at the ruins. “And yet somehow, we must find the strength to rebuild.”
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