A woman who was trapped under the wreckage of a hotel building in Myanmar after a catastrophic earthquake was miraculously rescued alive on Monday. The rescue operation, which took nearly 60 hours, provided a small glimmer of hope for rescue teams working tirelessly to find survivors. Volunteers, some without proper equipment, have been digging through the debris of collapsed buildings since Friday’s earthquake, which has caused the deaths of over 1,700 people in Myanmar and 18 in neighboring Thailand.

The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, with the International Committee of the Red Cross describing this as the most devastating earthquake in Asia in over a century. Despite the challenges, including a lack of equipment, communication and power outages, and damaged infrastructure, rescue efforts are ongoing.

Rescue teams in the Thai capital Bangkok are also continuing their efforts to locate survivors under the rubble of a 30-storey tower that collapsed during construction. However, these efforts are hindered by similar challenges as those faced in Myanmar. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that Myanmar’s death toll could surpass 10,000, with economic losses potentially exceeding the country’s annual GDP.

Following a rare appeal by Myanmar’s military junta for international aid, several countries including China, Russia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have provided assistance. The U.S. has committed $2 million in aid, to be distributed through humanitarian organizations based in Myanmar.

Myanmar was already facing a crisis due to a conflict sparked by the military’s takeover in 2021. The junta, which is facing armed resistance from those seeking a return to democracy and ethnic groups fighting for independence, has been accused of weaponizing aid and continues to carry out airstrikes, even after the earthquake. Human rights groups have called for aid to be delivered through community-based organizations or the National Unity Government, established by lawmakers and activists to oppose the coup.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/31/myanmar-earthquake-woman-rescued-alive-great-wall-hotel-mandalay