The death toll from a powerful earthquake in Myanmar climbed to 2,719 on Tuesday, with 4,521 people injured and over 400 missing, according to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. He warned that the death number could rise to 3,000. Earlier, the nation observed a minute of silence to mourn the death of victims of the disaster that struck last week.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, also impacting neighboring countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of India. The quake caused widespread destruction, severely damaging buildings and roads.
Survival chances for those trapped under debris depend not only on the weight of the rubble but also on access to air, water, and weather conditions. Experts suggest that if injuries are not critical, victims may survive for a week or longer, provided the temperature is neither extreme nor harsh. However, most rescues occur within the first 24 hours, as survival rates drop significantly afterward.
Victor Tsai, a geophysicist at Brown University, explained that victims have better survival chances if they are in a “survivable void space,” such as beneath a sturdy desk, which shields them from fatal injuries while awaiting rescue. Meanwhile, emergency response specialist Dr. Joseph Barbera from George Washington University noted that hazards like fire, smoke, or chemical leaks could further reduce survival prospects.
Beyond the initial aftermath, access to drinking water and air becomes crucial. “You can survive longer without food but much less without water,” Barbera said. Temperature also plays a key role—both inside the rubble, affecting those trapped, and outside, influencing rescue operations. He added that immediate medical intervention is often essential for survivors to prevent toxic shock from crushed muscles.
There have been past instances of remarkable survival. After the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, a teenage boy and his 80-year-old grandmother were rescued from the rubble after nine days. In 2010, a 16-year-old girl in Haiti was found alive under debris after 15 days.
Despite international aid efforts—including assistance from India—many of Myanmar’s worst-affected areas remain in urgent need of food, water, and shelter. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that communities in the hardest-hit regions are struggling to meet basic needs like clean water and sanitation, while emergency teams continue rescue operations.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) highlighted the dire situation in Mandalay, near the quake’s epicenter, where a school collapse killed 50 preschool children and two teachers. An IRC worker in Mandalay described how people, fearing aftershocks, are sleeping on roads and in open fields. “There’s an urgent need for tents, as even those whose homes are intact are too afraid to sleep indoors,” they said.
Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, following the military coup in 2021, has further complicated relief efforts, making it difficult for aid groups to reach those injured and displaced by one of the region’s deadliest earthquakes.
