Myanmar Earthquake Disrupts Aid Efforts Amid Ongoing Crisis

Rescue teams began arriving on Sunday in the areas of Myanmar most affected by a powerful earthquake that has claimed the lives of over 1,600 people.

However, their operations have been severely impacted by damaged roads, collapsed bridges, limited communication, and the added difficulty of working in a country already grappling with a civil conflict.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake, which struck around midday on Friday near Mandalay—Myanmar’s second-largest city—caused extensive destruction, toppling buildings and affecting key infrastructure, including the local airport.

Many of the city’s 1.5 million residents were forced to sleep outdoors, either because their homes were destroyed or due to fears that ongoing aftershocks could bring down already weakened structures. The tremor also affected neighboring Thailand, where at least 17 people lost their lives.

Panic spread again on Sunday when another 5.1 magnitude aftershock shook the region. Although people ran into the streets in fear, there were no immediate reports of further destruction.

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