Woman pulled alive from Myanmar earthquake rubble

BANGKOK—In a rare glimmer of hope, rescue teams in Myanmar pulled a woman alive from the ruins of Mandalay’s collapsed Great Wall Hotel on Monday—60 hours after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the region.

The dramatic rescue, led by Chinese, Russian, and local crews, came as the death toll soared past 2,000 in Myanmar and 18 in Thailand, with fears it could rise sharply as search efforts intensify.

The woman, found stable but traumatized after a five-hour operation, survived under debris near the quake’s epicenter in central Myanmar. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, Thai rescuers scrambled to locate 76 people buried under a toppled skyscraper construction site. “We’re not stopping—scans show weak life signs, and search dogs are pinpointing spots,” said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, defying the 72-hour survival window. “After Turkey’s miracles, we hold onto hope.”

Myanmar’s Dual Crisis: Quake Chaos Amid Civil War

The disaster has compounded misery in Myanmar, already reeling from a civil war triggered by the 2021 military coup. Rebel groups accused the junta of continuing airstrikes post-quake, while Singapore’s foreign minister urged an immediate ceasefire to ease aid delivery. Critical infrastructure—bridges, highways, airports—lies shattered, hampering relief for 23,000 survivors.

“Our teams in Mandalay are traumatized but pushing forward,” said UN representative Noriko Takagi. “Global solidarity is urgent.”

International Aid Mobilizes, Challenges Mount

India, China, Thailand, and Russia have dispatched rescue teams and supplies, while the U.S. pledged $2 million in aid via Myanmar-based groups. However, USAID’s strained resources under Trump-era cuts risk slowing response.