Myanmar Earthquake Updates: Toll Touches 1000-mark, US Agency Fears 10K Casualties; India’s Operation Brahma Underway

Mandalay/New Delhi: With rescue operations underway day after 7.7 earthquake jolted Myanmar, the country’s military junta claimed the toll to have touched 1,000-mark. More than 1,600 were left injured, reports claimed. Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) had warned that the earthquake might have caused “high casualties and extensive damage,” with the death toll potentially exceeding 10,000, reported India Today.

Rescuers are working tirelessly through the rubble, frantically searching for survivors in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city and the epicentre of the quake. At such a time, India has become one of the first respondents to assist Myanmar by launching its Operation Brahma.

“India acts as a First Responder to assist the people of Myanmar affected by yesterday’s massive earthquake,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X. India’s first batch of 15 tonnes of relief materials has already reached the neighbouring country. The relief package includes essential supplies such as tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals and generator sets.

“#OperationBrahma gets underway. First tranche of humanitarian aid from India has reached the Yangon Airport in Myanmar,” External Affairs minister of India, S Jaishankar, wrote on X.

The quake was so powerful that even Bangkok, located 900 kilometres away, felt its impact. The quake led to the collapse of several iconic structures and bridges.

Here’s a survivour’s account:

Harrowing details of the devastation emerged as survivors recount their tales of horror while speaking to various media outlets. One survivor from Myanmar told the BBC how he was pulled out of the rubble. He was in the washroom when the quake had struck. When he rushed for shelter in another building, another earthquake hit that led to its collapse, the survivor told BBC. Several of his family members are still missing.

Some updates day after the quake

• Thai government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok. At least 10 people have died, and 100 construction workers went missing after an under-construction skyscraper collapsed in Bangkok on Friday.
• Though Donald Trump had earlier announced cuts to USAID—known for humanitarian relief works—he vowed to send assistance to Myanmar. The budget cuts have stalled humanitarian work worldwide. USAID has historically played a key role in disaster relief efforts.
• Myanmar is facing an acute power and water crisis following the earthquake.
• Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, has requested assistance from all countries.”I would like to invite any country, any organisation, or anyone in Myanmar to come and help. Thank you,” he said.
• China and Russia have sent aid and rescue teams to Myanmar.

What caused the earthquake?

According to experts, Myanmar is more prone to earthquakes as it placed on the active Sagaing fault line. This has a history of powerful quakes, including a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1946 and a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in 2012.