Smell of death lingers in Myanmar cities as earthquake death toll surpasses 1,600

MANDALAY, Myanmar. The stench of decaying bodies filled the streets of Mandalay on Sunday as desperate residents dug through rubble by hand, hoping to find survivors two days after a catastrophic earthquake killed more than 1,600 people and buried countless others.

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck midday Friday, with its epicenter near Mandalay, toppling buildings and severely damaging infrastructure, including the city’s airport. The devastation has been exacerbated by ongoing civil conflict, making relief efforts even more challenging.

Rescue operations have been largely left to local residents, who have been forced to remove debris manually in scorching 41-degree Celsius (106°F) heat. Limited heavy machinery is available, and official assistance remains scarce. A powerful 5.1-magnitude aftershock on Sunday afternoon sent fresh panic through the city, but efforts to locate survivors continued.

Mandalay, home to 1.5 million residents, is in crisis. Thousands have been left homeless, with many sleeping in the streets either due to destroyed homes or fear of aftershocks causing further structural collapses. The earthquake’s tremors were felt as far as Thailand, where 18 people were confirmed dead.

As of Sunday, authorities have reported 1,644 deaths and 3,408 injuries, but many affected areas remain inaccessible. “It’s mainly been local volunteers, local people who are just trying to find their loved ones,” said Cara Bragg, Yangon-based manager of Catholic Relief Services.

Reports indicate that international assistance is beginning to arrive. “Some countries are now sending search and rescue teams up to Mandalay to support the efforts,” Bragg noted. However, hospitals are overwhelmed and facing severe shortages of medical supplies, food, and clean water.

The damage to Mandalay’s airport and the collapse of Naypyitaw’s control tower have halted commercial flights into the region, further complicating relief operations. Official government response efforts have prioritized government offices and staff housing, leaving local communities and aid groups to conduct rescue operations largely unaided.

A Chinese rescue team successfully pulled an elderly man from the rubble of a hospital in Naypyitaw after nearly 40 hours, according to China’s Xinhua news agency. Many more are feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings across the country.

Myanmar sits atop the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south fault line separating the India Plate and the Sunda Plate. The quake resulted from a 200-kilometer (125-mile) rupture, causing widespread destruction across the Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, and Bago regions, as well as Shan State.

India has dispatched two C-17 military transport aircraft carrying a field hospital unit and 120 personnel, who will set up a 60-bed emergency treatment center in Mandalay. Additional Indian aid has arrived in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.

A convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying essential shelter and medical supplies is expected to reach Mandalay after a grueling 650-kilometer (400-mile) journey that has taken over 14 hours due to earthquake-related road closures and detours.

Other countries have also mobilized aid:

• Russia has sent 120 rescuers and medical supplies to Yangon.
• Singapore teams are working in Naypyitaw.
• Malaysia has dispatched 50 personnel with search and rescue equipment.
• Thailand deployed 55 soldiers to Yangon.
• Britain has pledged $13 million in humanitarian aid.

Efforts to deliver aid are further hindered by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war. Since the military’s 2021 coup, resistance groups and government forces have been locked in conflict. Many quake-affected areas remain under the control of anti-junta forces, making them difficult for relief organizations to access.

“We’re hearing reports of hundreds of people trapped in different areas,” Bragg said. “With 1,600 confirmed dead so far and limited data from remote regions, the actual toll is likely much higher.”

The military has continued airstrikes and mortar attacks on rebel-held territories even after the disaster, further worsening the humanitarian crisis. Tom Andrews, a United Nations human rights monitor, urged Myanmar’s military to immediately cease hostilities and allow unimpeded relief efforts.

“Aid workers should not have to fear arrest, and there should be no obstructions to aid reaching those in need. Every minute counts,” Andrews wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued an initial earthquake response report on Saturday, highlighting the extensive destruction of health facilities and warning of a severe shortage of trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, essential medicines, and tents for health workers.

China has pledged $13.8 million in emergency aid, while Russia and other international partners continue to deploy additional resources. However, the window to find survivors is rapidly closing. Most rescues occur within the first 24 hours after a disaster, with survival chances decreasing significantly each passing day.

With Myanmar’s government focusing on its military operations, millions affected by the earthquake are left relying on the efforts of local volunteers and foreign aid workers—if they can reach them in time.