In Mandalay, Myanmar, the aftermath of a powerful earthquake has sent volunteers into a desperate rush for survivors. Early reports indicate that at least a hundred people remain trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings following the quake that struck at 12:50 p.m. on Friday. Thaw Zin, a volunteer at the scene, expressed the urgency as rescue workers sift through the debris of apartments, monasteries, and mosques.
With power lines down and roads destroyed, the challenges are immense in this area already struggling under a repressive military government and ongoing civil unrest. The earthquake, only the third of such magnitude in a century, has prompted the military junta to declare a state of emergency across six regions, including areas controlled by rebel forces.
Amid this chaos, Su Wai Lin’s family narrowly escaped when the quake hit, but her husband bravely re-entered their building to rescue their elderly neighbor. The situation remains dire as communities come together to support one another while the search for survivors continues.
