Rescuers in Myanmar pulled a man alive from the rubble on Wednesday, five days after a devastating earthquake killed over 2,700 people. The discovery comes as pressure mounts on the ruling junta to allow more humanitarian aid and halt military attacks on rebel groups amid the crisis.
The 7.7-magnitude quake struck on Friday, flattening buildings and leaving thousands homeless. While some armed groups have declared temporary ceasefires to focus on relief efforts, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing insisted that military operations would continue despite international calls for a halt.
Survivor Rescued Amid Fading Hopes
In a rare moment of hope, a 26-year-old hotel worker was pulled from the ruins of a building in the capital, Naypyidaw, by a joint Myanmar-Turkish rescue team shortly after midnight. Video footage from the Myanmar Fire Services Department showed the dazed but conscious man being carefully extracted from the rubble and placed on a stretcher.
Authorities report that at least 2,719 people have died, more than 4,500 are injured, and 441 remain missing. However, with communication and infrastructure severely damaged, the true scale of the disaster remains unclear.
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted severe destruction in the city of Sagaing, where one in three houses have reportedly collapsed. Medical facilities, already strained by conflict, are overwhelmed, and essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine are running low.
Conflict Disrupts Relief Efforts
Sagaing, one of the worst-hit areas, has also been a focal point of Myanmar’s ongoing civil war. Continued fighting between the junta and ethnic armed groups has complicated aid delivery, and journalists have been unable to reach the area.
International bodies, including the UN and Amnesty International, have urged both sides to prioritize humanitarian efforts. UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop called for a halt in hostilities, emphasizing the need to protect civilians and aid workers.
While some ethnic armed groups and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) have announced temporary ceasefires to support relief efforts, reports of junta airstrikes on rebel positions have continued.
Min Aung Hlaing defended ongoing military operations, accusing opposition groups of preparing attacks. However, UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews condemned the junta’s actions, stating that the airstrikes were “outrageous” and should be strongly denounced by world leaders.
International Condemnation
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the military’s actions, urging an immediate cessation of hostilities and full humanitarian access. Amnesty International also criticized the junta’s approach, with researcher Joe Freeman stating, “You cannot ask for aid with one hand and bomb with the other.”
Separate Disaster in Bangkok
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, Thailand, workers continue searching through the wreckage of a collapsed 30-story skyscraper that was under construction when the earthquake struck. The disaster buried dozens of builders, with the death toll now at 22 and more than 70 still believed to be trapped.
As Myanmar struggles with the aftermath of its deadliest earthquake in decades, calls for a unified humanitarian response grow louder—yet political tensions continue to hinder critical relief efforts.
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