The China Story
at your Fingertips
OPEN
The death toll has risen to 3,798, with 5,106 injured and 106 people reported missing.
Eight Chinese nationals were confirmed dead, 13 injured in the strong earthquake.
YANGON -- The deadly earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in 3,003 deaths, 4,515 injuries, and 351 people missing, the official media Myanmar Radio and Television reported late Wednesday.
At 6 am Wednesday, I awoke in a mosquito net alongside hundreds of earthquake victims near the moat of Mandalay Palace.
The Chinese rescue teams were already hard at work, with generators humming and vehicles bustling. Food and water had been quietly placed outside people's mosquito nets, likely brought by local volunteer organizations or individuals in the early hours of the morning.
Across the street, an elderly woman in her 80s has been trapped for over four days. The dedicated volunteers from the Blue Sky Rescue team have been tirelessly digging for two days and nights in hopes of finding her alive. Last night at midnight, I overheard them discussing their next steps for the excavation.
To my left, the elderly woman's son and his family are taking refuge. Upon learning that I was a journalist from China, they kindly brought pillows and blankets to my mosquito net — my temporary residence. As I pen these words, they have even brought us hot fried dough sticks.
This is the city center of Mandalay, near the ancient imperial city. These disaster-stricken individuals may face the loss of generational heritage, potentially leading to months of makeshift camps by the river.
Yet, as the morning sun rises, I see children playing, residents washing clothes in the river and hanging them on the roadside railings, and many disaster victims still asleep.
Since my arrival in Yangon on Monday evening, nearly 48 hours have passed. I feel ashamed that my videos, photos, and words cannot fully capture all that I have witnessed. It is my hope that this personal perspective can offer you a more first-hand understanding of the situation in Myanmar's disaster-stricken areas.
As a Chinese saying goes, "In times of difficulty, support comes from all directions". On this journey, I have personally experienced the unwavering unity of the Chinese people. The Blue Sky Rescue team from Myanmar and the local chamber of commerce had already arranged vehicles for us and other volunteers arriving before and after us. The local telecom company provided us with complimentary SIM cards, and customs officials greeted us with respect and gratitude.
The rescue volunteers didn't even eat the boxed meals prepared for them. They got on the bus straight away and traveled overnight for over 12 hours, arriving in Mandalay on Tuesday afternoon. As of last night, more than 110 professional international rescue volunteers from the Blue Sky Rescue team had arrived in Myanmar, with hundreds more from other civilian rescue teams.
Myanmar's scorching temperatures, exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in Mandalay these days, present challenges for the rescue efforts.
These days are also a critical period for rescue, with opportunities to find signs of life. At this moment, the elderly woman across the street, still trapped, weighs heavily on the hearts of many rescue team members. Their tireless efforts, working for hours on end without rest, also resonate with the local residents.
After the earthquake, fear gripped the people, prompting them to camp in open spaces overnight rather than remain in their homes. Fortunately, Myanmar's nighttime temperatures are moderate, and the self-sufficient and resilient attitude of the locals has brought a sense of calm to the city post-disaster.
The four-year-old son of a local resident has been sleeping with a small backpack and shoes these nights — he said he is afraid and ready to escape with his most beloved belongings at any time.
Local people have been helping and expressing gratitude to the Chinese rescue team are happening every minute, allowing me to see the significant impact that the Chinese people are making in the world, as is reflected by the attitude of the local people.
Anyone wearing Blue Sky Rescue team blue uniform driving to refuel doesn't need to wait in line, and even gas stations refuse payment. When Chinese rescue personnel go shopping or eat, locals warmly express their gratitude. Traffic police clear the way for vehicles from the Chinese rescue teams. When rescue workers need construction machinery such as excavators, relevant companies and organizations send assistance to the best of their ability.
However, the Blue Sky Rescue team strictly adheres to discipline and does not accept any gifts, insisting on paying for all expenses.
A volunteer from Blue Sky Rescue, who prefers to be called "Dry Cloud", told me that rescue work requires a lot of specialized knowledge depending on the actual situation at each site. For example, if some houses are very fragile and collapse completely during the earthquake, the excavation is simple — the injured can be rescued quickly. But for buildings that have not collapsed and are leaning, extra caution is needed during rescue. Designing excavation plans to avoid secondary collapse and harm to rescue personnel is crucial.
He also reminds all arriving volunteers that while helping others, they must have professional knowledge and technical support and pay attention to their own safety.
Continuous influxes of relief materials and donations from various parts of China have been arriving. Post-disaster recovery efforts, including body cleanup, epidemic prevention, medical care, road repairs, water supply and power restoration will also begin one after another.
Stay tuned to China Daily as we will continue to bring you firsthand reports from the front lines.
Xu Nuo in Beijing contributed to this story.
YANGON -- The Chinese rescue team successfully extricated a male survivor at a hotel on Wednesday afternoon in Mandalay, Myanmar.
The man, an employee of the E-outfitting Golden Country Hotel, had been trapped for over 120 hours and was in stable condition when rescued.
The survivor has been transferred to a local hospital for further treatment. This marks the ninth survivor successfully rescued by the Chinese rescue teams.
YANGON -- A man trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed guesthouse for 122 hours was rescued in Myanmar's Sagaing region, following Friday's devastating earthquake, according to the Myanmar Fire Services Department (MFSD) on Wednesday.
The MFSD rescue team, in collaboration with international rescuers, carried out the operation and successfully pulled him out alive at 2:45 pm local time on Wednesday, it said.
Rescue efforts are still ongoing, according to the department.
To ensure rescue forces and materials from China's Yunnan province swiftly reach the quake-hit areas in Myanmar, the Kunming Customs fast-tracked customs clearance of relief goods, rescue team members, and search and rescue dogs.
BEIJING -- The first batch of aid supplies from the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) arrived in Mandalay, the epicenter of Myanmar's recent 7.9-magnitude earthquake, on Wednesday, according to the RCSC.
The supplies include over 4,900 relief items such as tents, blankets, folding beds, and family kits to support the affected households. The Myanmar Red Cross will distribute these items with assistance from an RCSC rescue team, which had previously entered Myanmar and is also helping set up shelters.
Following the deadly quake on March 28, the RCSC promptly donated 1.5 million yuan (about $208,900) in emergency funding. At the request of Myanmar, the RCSC dispatched relief supplies to the disaster-stricken area and deployed a rescue team to the epicenter to conduct humanitarian operations.
Currently, 15 RCSC rescuers in Mandalay are conducting search-and-rescue operations, providing medical assistance and psychological support to those in need.
Hundreds of professionally trained Chinese volunteers have arrived in Mandalay to participate in the rescue efforts, after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. They are racing against time to save lives despite facing numerous obstacles, including local high temperatures that reach up to 40 C during the day. Follow China Daily for the latest updates of the Myanmar earthquake relief.
YANGON -- The death toll from Friday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 2,886, with 4,639 injured and 373 still missing, according to the State Administration Council information team on Wednesday.
Myo Nyunt, president of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, told Xinhua earlier that key challenges in the current rescue operations included disaster assessment and logistics coordination.
Due to safety concerns in the affected areas, rescue teams have faced significant difficulties in distributing supplies, with a particular shortage of heavy machinery, Myo Nyunt said.
YANGON -- The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar has delivered cash assistance worth 1.5 million yuan ($206,700) to the Myanmar Red Cross Society.
Minister Counselor Cao Jing met here on Tuesday with Myo Nyunt, president of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, and handed over the cash aid offered by the Red Cross Society of China.
Cao said that China expresses sincere condolences to the Myanmar government and people for the casualties and property losses caused by Friday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake.
The Chinese government has decided to provide 100 million yuan of emergency humanitarian earthquake relief assistance to Myanmar, as numerous Chinese rescue teams have been working in the quake-affected areas, according to Cao.
"The assistance from the Red Cross Society of China once again demonstrates the profound friendship of the Chinese people towards the Myanmar people," Cao noted.
Myo Nyunt thanked the Chinese side for coming to the aid immediately and extending a helping hand to the Myanmar people.
The Myanmar Red Cross Society is willing to make joint efforts with China to overcome difficulties and rebuild its homeland as soon as possible, said Myo Nyunt. (1 yuan equals 0.14 US dollars)
The Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Yunnan province donated a batch of medical supplies worth more than 240,000 yuan (around $33,011.76) on Tuesday to support earthquake relief work in Myanmar.
Upon arriving in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday evening, I rushed to Mandalay overnight with the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team that was carrying supplies.
The bus was loaded with supplies donated by Chinese social organizations. Among them were three large packages wrapped in woven bags placed in the aisles between seats.
I asked what they were and got a chilling answer that brought home the serious nature of the disaster: body bags.
After a night of rough travel, the team arrived in the city around 8 am on Monday.
It took about 14 hours on the road. I heard from the locals that it usually takes half that time to make the journey.
Many main roads were closed, so we had to take detours, and we were stopped and questioned several times by checkpoints set up by the government army.
As we approached Mandalay, the destruction of dwellings along the way increased.
In the city, most residential houses had some kind of damage. Many buildings were in danger of collapse, and lots of residents were camping on the roadside or on sports fields.
After arriving, the team members immediately started rescue work without taking a rest.
I was wearing a Chinese Red Cross rescue uniform, and went around taking photos with the guidance of a local overseas Chinese volunteer.
The feedback from local people was very positive. Some shop owners offered free drinking water, some greeted us in Chinese saying "Nihao", while others smiled and said "China" while giving a thumbs-up.
I met an overseas Chinese whose house — a four-story building — collapsed in the earthquake, with only remnants of the top floor.
Upon seeing me, he tentatively asked if the rescue team could help retrieve some important items, including identification cards, that were buried in the rubble. The team leader promised to later find time to help him.
On the first day in Mandalay, the most challenging aspect was the high temperature, with a maximum temperature of 42 C.
Even at noon, the hottest part of the day, the rescue work never stopped.
After returning to their makeshift base at a sports hall, the Chinese rescuers immediately took off their uniforms and lay on the ground.
This trip to Myanmar was the first international rescue mission of the team I had accompanied.
I was deeply moved by the humanitarian spirit and professional capabilities of the team members, who are all from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
Among the 15 members, there is one female member, Chen Ying. She has been engaged in rescue work for 10 years and is responsible for logistics, psychological counseling, and medical assistance on this trip.
Facing my interview camera, she said, "As a member of the Red Cross, our original intention has long surpassed life itself. I hope everyone stays safe."
Zhang Xiaomin contributed to this story.
An elderly woman was successfully rescued by a Chinese rescue team from under hospital rubble in Myanmar's capital, Nay Pyi Daw, on Sunday morning, nearly 40 hours after the magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck on Friday.
"When she was carried onto a stretcher by rescuers, everyone on the scene was excited," said Mu Shuyuan, from China's Yunnan province rescue and medical team.
The 37-member team was the first international one to arrive at the earthquake-stricken area. Eighteen of the team members are from China Railway No 2 Engineering Group's National Tunnel Emergency Rescue Team based in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. They are responsible for rescue efforts, while the others take care of medical needs and help with disease prevention.
Carrying emergency rescue supplies, including life detection equipment, an earthquake early-warning system and portable satellite equipment, the team arrived at Yangon International Airport on Saturday morning.
Upon landing, they immediately joined forces with the Myanmar fire and rescue department, and after traveling for more than nine hours reached severely affected areas in Nay Pyi Daw.
"Without taking a break, we brought demolition tools and communication equipment to the designated location, and quickly engaged in rescue work," said Mu, leader of the rescue squad.
At Ottara Thiri Private Hospital, a three-story building was severely damaged, with the ground floor completely collapsed.
Using a sign of life detector, Mu's squad located a survivor trapped under the collapsed floor.
His deputy Xiao Min crawled in front of a crevice in the rubble, shone a flashlight in the space and called out loudly in Mandarin with a Guizhou accent, "Don't be afraid. We are here to rescue you!"
Realizing there was a language barrier, Xiao immediately called for a translator. The translator was able to communicate the message, and a hoarse response was heard emanating from deep within the debris.
A 73-year-old woman, who had previously undergone brain surgery and returned to the hospital for a checkup, was trapped in a narrow space between the second and first floors, alongside bodies of the deceased.
Due to the complex environment, they devised a rescue plan along with local emergency workers.
"During the rescue process, we not only had to consider that drilling vibrations might cause concrete blocks to fall, causing secondary harm to the trapped individuals, but we also had to be vigilant about aftershocks and the risk of collapse," Xiao said.
After drilling two access holes, one running horizontally and the other vertically, they still could not reach the woman. They then drilled a third hole, which enabled them to remove the bodies of two deceased people on top of the woman.
At 4:56 am on Sunday, after being trapped for nearly 40 hours, she was successfully rescued.
"Make sure to lift steadily and slowly," Xiao repeatedly instructed those carrying the stretcher. When she was safely placed in an ambulance, he let out a sigh of relief.
Heartfelt gratitude
After saving the woman, Mu led the squad to the main building of the hospital, where a trembling elderly man grabbed his wrist and spoke in a croaky voice to him.
Translators and local firefighters informed Mu that the man was a relative of a victim whose body had been retrieved from the debris.
Despite the outcome not being as desired, he expressed deep gratitude for the hard work of the rescue team.
"Although we couldn't understand each other's languages, his emotions and sincerity deeply touched us," Mu said.
On Sunday morning, Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing visited the hospital and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the entire Yunnan rescue and medical team for their prompt arrival in Myanmar for rescue operations.
Medical team member He Jibo communicated and coordinated with accompanying Myanmar health officials. He said that they were very concerned about the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases due to poor hygiene.
The Chinese team will work with Myanmar's health department and disease control center to further clarify post-disaster health and epidemic prevention needs, He said.
"The rescue operation in the quake-hit area faces various difficulties. Myanmar, both officially and privately, is deeply moved by China's immediate mobilization for disaster relief," said Chin Myint, managing director of Yangon-based Myanmar Weimin Energy Technology Co.
"As far as I know, the number of Chinese rescuers who arrived in Mandalay has exceeded 300," he said on Monday.
Chin said he was on a business trip to Mandalay on Friday when he felt the strong earthquake while checking into his hotel.
He said he immediately went to the hardest-hit area of the city to assist front-line rescue workers and also participated in fundraising for the victims and survivors. "We need to do our best. The buildings have collapsed, but we cannot let hope collapse as well," he said.
Responsible neighbor
The Yunnan rescue and medical team was joined in Myanmar by a Hong Kong search and rescue team, the China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team, as well as various civilian rescue forces from different parts of the mainland.
The Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team traveled to Mandalay, where its 15 team members were involved in search and rescue efforts, care and transfer of survivors, medical assistance, and provided psychological counseling.
On Sunday, while preparing for departure at Kunming airport, they encountered a middle-aged Myanmar overseas Chinese named Sein Yee, who cried with excitement upon seeing the team.
Sein had planned to fly back to Mandalay from Mangshi of Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, Yunnan, on Friday. Due to the earthquake, the flight was canceled so she transferred to Kunming.
"On one hand, I was moved because we were in distress, and China promptly came to our rescue," she said. "On the other hand, seeing the disaster scenes sent by friends after the earthquake made me very sad."
"My heart has been aching, hoping more people are rescued as soon as possible," she said.
Ma Yong, a researcher at the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, said that China and Myanmar form a community with a shared future. The two countries share "weal and woe", bound by a profound pauk-phaw ("fraternal" in the Myanmar language) friendship between their peoples.
"True solidarity shines brightest in times of adversity," Ma said. "Upon learning of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, the Chinese government immediately extended assistance, with Chinese rescue teams being the first to arrive on the scene.
"They swiftly engaged in relief operations and announced humanitarian aid. The rapid and efficient involvement of Chinese rescue forces has helped people in Myanmar fight the disaster. This has further strengthened the 'heart-to-heart connectivity' between the peoples of China and Myanmar."
Ran Aobo, a researcher at Tsinghua University's Institute for Urban Governance and Sustainable Development, said China, as a responsible big country, had sent emergency response teams multiple times to other countries for disaster relief work.
China is a participant in Integrated Research on Disaster Risk, an international scientific program co-sponsored by the International Science Council and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, he added.
"China has a strong capability and willingness to enhance international cooperation in disaster relief," he said, adding that the country leverages its expertise in technical training and data sharing.
As Myanmar is an important neighbor, China's actions are also proof of the two countries' long-lasting friendship, he added.
Chen Meiling contributed to this story.
MANDALAY, Myanmar -- Chinese rescue teams are continuing to work in the hard-hit Mandalay in central Myanmar following the 7.9-magnitude temblor last week, and have so far saved eight survivors as of 08:00 local time on Tuesday in the country.
The China Search and Rescue Team saved four survivors, the Yunnan Rescue Medical Team rescued one survivor, and other civil emergency forces rescued three and assisted the China Search and Rescue Team.
To coordinate the Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay, a rescue work mechanism was established to enhance information sharing and joint logistics to ensure the quality and effectiveness of their rescue work.
Currently, the weather in Mandalay is hot, with the highest daytime temperature topping 40 degrees Celsius, and there are many mosquitoes at the work sites.
Meanwhile, experts from the Chinese Search and Rescue Team have completed the safety assessment of the damage to the four office buildings of the Chinese Consulate General in Mandalay, and offered proposals on emergency disposal.
YANGON -- Myanmar observed a one-minute silence on Tuesday to honor the victims of the devastating earthquake that has claimed over 2,000 lives.
At precisely 12:51:02 local time, the moment the 7.9-magnitude quake struck near Mandalay, sirens rang out across the nation in remembrance of those lost.
Myanmar announced on Monday a week-long mourning period following a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
As of 8 am local time on Tuesday in Myanmar, Chinese official and civil rescue teams have rescued a total of eight people following the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.
On Monday, the rescue team from Hong Kong SAR and the China International Search and Rescue Team met with China Search and Rescue Team.
To coordinate the efforts of the Chinese rescue teams in Myanmar, the ministry has established a unified rescue mechanism. This includes joint meetings, information sharing, coordinated rescue operations and shared logistical support, aiming at enhancing collaboration between the various teams and ensuring the effectiveness of the rescue operations, the ministry said.
Currently, the disaster area is experiencing hot weather, with daytime temperatures exceeding 40C. The rescue sites are also infested with mosquitoes. In response, the Chinese rescue teams are adhering to a rotational shift system for team members, and sanitation measures for personnel and equipment are strictly followed, according to the ministry.
Disinfection is conducted regularly within and around the campsite to maintain hygiene and ensure epidemic prevention safety, the ministry added.
Additionally, earthquake engineering experts have completed a safety assessment of the damage to four office buildings at the Chinese consulate general in Mandalay and have provided targeted emergency response recommendations.
Rescue and medical teams from across the Asia-Pacific region are continuing relief and search operations in Myanmar, helping the nation recover from Friday's devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake.
The disaster killed 2,056 people in Myanmar as of noon on Monday, injured about 3,900, with 270 missing, and sent violent tremors to nearby Thailand.
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam sent emergency response teams to Myanmar soon after the quake, while the Philippine disaster response team will arrive on Tuesday.
Japan has dispatched an assessment team and will provide emergency relief supplies to those affected by the earthquake through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Timor-Leste held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss humanitarian aid to Myanmar.
They agreed to strengthen relief and recovery efforts through the ASEAN Standby Arrangements and member states' contributions.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, this year's rotating chair of ASEAN, conveyed Malaysia's condolences and pledged to distribute 10 million ringgit ($2.25 million) in humanitarian aid to Myanmar citizens affected by the tragedy.
In a message posted to his social media account Sunday, Anwar said he had directed Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to lead a humanitarian mission to Myanmar this week. He had also called Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to express his deepest condolences and sympathy, Anwar said.
In the Thai capital of Bangkok, the death toll has hit 19, rescuers said on Monday.
The earthquake — measured as a magnitude 7.9 by the China Earthquake Network Center and a magnitude 7.7 by US authorities — is the strongest the region has experienced in nearly 200 years. The last temblor of a similar scale was recorded in the 1830s.
India said it had dispatched 15 metric tons of relief items by aircraft to Yangon, including ready-to-eat meals, blankets and generator sets. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had also sent four naval ships with relief supplies.
Australia will provide an initial A$2 million ($1.25 million) to Myanmar through the International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC. The funding will help the ICRC carry out immediate lifesaving support, such as addressing emergency medical needs.
Canberra also welcomed the release of $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support urgent needs such as shelter, food and water.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Sunday that the kingdom would provide Myanmar with $100,000 in initial emergency assistance.
The United Arab Emirates also has expressed its sympathies and solidarity with the governments and peoples of Myanmar and Thailand, and the families of the victims.
In a statement on Saturday, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari offered condolences for the loss of human lives and affirmed support for those affected.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also offered Pakistan's assistance to Myanmar and Thailand, saying "our thoughts and prayers are with the people of both countries as they pass through this difficult time".
Cui Haipei in Dubai, Jiang Xueqing in Tokyo, Xin Xin in Sydney and Xu Weiwei in Hong Kong contributed to this story.
prime@chinadailyapac.com
