The Sky Villa Condominium, which was described as having an “earthquake-resistant foundation” when it was built in 2017, was one of the worst-hit buildings in the recent earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. The 12-story complex, which had the city’s largest rooftop bar and a state-of-the-art gym, is now a tomb after the earthquake.
Rescue efforts have been ongoing for days, led by volunteers and Chinese rescue workers. Desperate family members have been searching for their loved ones in the ruins of the building, but the smell of decaying bodies and the scorching heat have made their efforts even more difficult.
Mr. Sai Myo tun, who is searching for his pregnant sister, believes that she may still be alive if the rescue efforts can be expedited. However, rescue teams have stated that there may not be any survivors left. Despite this, Mr. Sai tun is still holding onto hope.
Mandalay has been the site of a building boom in recent years, with the construction of fancy nightclubs and apartment blocks signifying increased social mobility. It is also a center of Buddhist culture and home to multiple religions and ethnicities, including a significant Chinese population. Since the military coup four years ago, Mandalay has also become an epicenter of resistance.
The destruction in Mandalay has been widespread, with an analysis showing that 515 buildings were 80% to 100% damaged and another 1,524 were 20% to 80% damaged. Rural parts of the city have been ignored as rescue teams focus on downtown areas, where Muslims, a minority in Myanmar, reside. Authorities have been forcing people to return home by a curfew or face military service.
The earthquake has also devastated cultural and religious sites, with many historic buildings, including mosques, pagodas, and monasteries, collapsing. In Burmese culture, the breaking of a pagoda tip is considered a very bad omen, and the recent aftershocks have caused people to leave the city.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/asia/myanmar-mandalay-earthquake-condo.html
