YANGON -- The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services of Myanmar on Saturday announced the extension of the temporary ceasefire until June 30, state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Sunday.

The extension, starting June 1, is aimed at supporting rehabilitation and resettlement efforts in quake-affected areas, serving the interests of the country and its people, and promoting peace and stability, the report said.

The Myanmar Armed Forces had earlier declared a temporary ceasefire from May 6 to 31 to help with rescue and relief work after the 7.9-magnitude quake, it added.

During the ceasefire, ethnic armed organizations and other armed groups are urged not to disrupt or attack communication routes used by the public, not to cause harm to or destroy the lives and property of civilians, not to attack security personnel and their camps, not to target military commands, not to recruit or mobilize forces that could undermine peace, and not to expand territories.

If such actions occur, the Myanmar Armed Forces will take necessary response measures to protect the public, the report said.

Editor's note: Over one month on after the Myanmar earthquake, this ANN special report examines why it led to so much devastation, the current situation in quake-hit areas, and why earthquake preparedness is crucial.

More than a month after a massive earthquake rattled Myanmar, about 207,000 people, including a large number of women and children, remain displaced, of whom about 42,000 are living in 135 temporary shelters, according to April 22 data from the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, or AHA Centre.

The earthquake was so devastating that it necessitated rebuilding and relocation plans in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw, Thailand-based online newspaper The Nation reported.

The capital's urban layout is now under review, the article continued, with Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing announcing plans to redesign the city's urban structure during a cabinet meeting held shortly after the quake.

To grasp the massive, destructive scale of the recent earthquake, one must understand the many factors that contributed to it, said Md Sakawat Hossain, professor at the Department of Geological Sciences at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka.

"A 7.7-magnitude earthquake is quite major by itself. Paired with the shallow depth of the origin (about 10 kilometers) and proximity to major cities Naypyidaw and Mandalay, it has caused intense destruction we see today.

"For context, the amount of energy released during this earthquake was about 330 times that of the Hiroshima bombing."

The resulting conditions are nothing short of catastrophic. Food is difficult to come by and hygiene is a massive concern given the lack of access to reliable sources of clean water for drinking and washing.

The temporary tents, per AHA Centre, are constructed from materials that cannot withstand severe weather, such as heavy rain and extreme heat.

In the wake of the earthquake, the ASEAN said it strengthened the relief and recovery efforts through the ASEAN standby arrangements and ASEAN member states' contributions, among other mechanisms.

Individual countries, neighboring and from farther afield, have also stepped up to give aid, be it through the deployment of rescue workers, paramedics, and even sniffer dogs — some of whom doubled as therapy dogs for survivors and their families, as reported by The Nation.

Reuters published a list of initial aid contributors days after the quake, March 30, which included China, India, the United States, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Russia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The situation has been so dire that even neighboring nations with complex relations with Myanmar have taken it upon themselves to send in relief and humanitarian aid. Multiple rounds of relief, along with a humanitarian mission, were initiated by Bangladeshi authorities.

According to Bangladesh-based newspaper The Daily Star, two transport aircraft had been sent with 16.5 tons of emergency relief, including dry rations, clean water, oral saline, tents, hygiene products and other essential products to Yangon on March 3.

In a more recent report on Reuters, however, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC, said on April 17 it had received "only a fraction of an emergency appeal for 100 million Swiss francs ($119 million)" to help in the recovery efforts.

Call for support

The amount is "a lot less than expected", Alexander Matheou from the IFRC tells Reuters via video link in Mandalay.

According to a report released by the United Nations on its website on April 18, 4.3 million people urgently need clean water and sanitation.

Malnutrition is a growing concern, particularly among children as food insecurity worsens. Education infrastructure and farmlands have also been hit hard. On top of this, the report adds, women and children have become more vulnerable.

Mariko Hall, external relations officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, told ANN that 17.2 million people were affected by the earthquake. It also reduced homes, hospitals, and schools to rubble, she added, disrupting markets and essential services, including water and sanitation.

For earthquake-affected communities, Hall said the most urgent needs include emergency shelter, core relief items such as solar lamps, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, tents, kitchen sets, and safe drinking water, food, and healthcare.

"Particularly ahead of the monsoon season, with risk of floods and landslides, shelter support is essential so that people have somewhere safe to live," she added.

Given the existing challenges on the ground, compounded by powerful aftershocks and heavy rains, Hall told ANN that to ensure rapid response, they had to reprioritize existing resources and dispatch emergency supplies from Yangon to assist survivors.

Hall said the ability of UNHCR to deliver humanitarian aid and provide protection assistance largely depends on generous donations from individuals and the international community.

"The UNHCR's total funding requirements for Myanmar in 2025 is $88.3 million to assist displaced people and their host communities," she shared, adding that "As of the end of March, less than 20 percent of funding had been secured."

"At this critical time, the people of Myanmar need the support of the international community more than ever."

Looming threat

With the sudden onset of such a devastating crisis, there have been speculations about whether this earthquake is an indicator of disasters that may recur in the future within the region.

Misinformation on social media has exacerbated the collective panic among people about the possibilities of earthquakes and the authorities' ability to mitigate the impact of such disasters.

In this regard, Hossain told ANN, "Earthquakes are the only natural disasters that cannot be predicted even a few seconds in advance."

There is no way to warn authorities and the public. This region has many large-scale fault lines, of which many are quite active.

"This includes the Sagaing fault which has experienced about nine major earthquakes in the past 100 years, the Chittagong Coastal fault, the Main Frontal Thrust fault, the Dauki fault, the Oldham fault, the Madhupur fault and the Sylhet fault," he said.

Hossain said most of these faults have recurrence intervals between 20 and 30 years and 200 and 500 years. These faults can impact India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand and Myanmar.

"Thus, I cannot say when or exactly where there can be an earthquake, but I can say there is a looming threat to the region, and we must be prepared," he said.

While analyzing the possible risks of major earthquakes in the region, Hossain mentioned that a lot of major cities in South Asia, such as Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Bangkok, Silchar, Kathmandu, Kolkata, and Dhaka, are built on flatlands and soft sediments.

Earthquakes in flatlands and areas with soft sediment, like delta and basin regions, can result in unique and potentially damaging effects, including liquefaction and ground deformation, which increases the odds of higher damages to the region experiencing the earthquake, including possible subsidence and landslides.

Thus, it is crucial for nations, especially those with densely populated areas and cities, to make necessary arrangements to not only prepare for the possibility of an earthquake and mitigate the possible impacts of such disasters, but also to spread awareness to the public about what can be done and how they can be prepared themselves.

"Authorities must increase their knowledge and vigilance over earthquake hazard assessment capacity, and by investing in equipment and stations that would observe overall seismic activities within the region, giving them the scope to collect as much information as possible.

"Reducing vulnerabilities to power, water, gas and telecom networks is also an extremely important step for authorities, as these infrastructures often take the first hit. Investing in rescue equipment is also a must for each nation in this region," Hossain said while highlighting some of the crucial steps required for managing and preparing for the possibility of major earthquakes.

"Policies and building codes must be updated and strictly implemented to ensure proper construction of earthquake-resistant establishments or infrastructures for all new projects. Authorities must also enforce retrofitting and other engineering measures for older constructions and buildings, allowing impending damage to be minimized," he added.

He further mentioned, "There should be campaigns and training available to make people aware of what to do in case of such an emergency, and make it available in all educational institutes, at all levels and capacities, to better understand what the disaster is and how to keep themselves prepared for it."

Asia News Network

YANGON -- The 14th batch of emergency humanitarian in-kind assistance dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Wednesday.

The supplies included 1,804 prefabricated houses and 95 sets of mobile operating rooms, and were received by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 13, the earthquake has claimed around 3,800 lives and injured over 5,100 people, with 85 others remaining unaccounted for, according to official data.

YANGON — Under the white canopy of a China-donated tent at a relief camp in Mandalay, 33-year-old Ma Aye Aye cradled her 9-month-old baby while keeping an eye on a toddler playing nearby.

"These tents protect us from rain, heat, wind, and even mosquitoes if we zip them up," she said, gently holding her baby. "Before this, we lived on the ground."

Ma Aye Aye and her family are among the thousands forced to flee their homes after a series of devastating earthquakes rocked central Myanmar, destroying houses and claiming lives across 10 regions and states. The disaster, which included tremors as strong as magnitude 7.9, left around 3,800 people dead and displaced over 200,000 as of Friday.

"Our house was tilted and cracked," she said. Fearing it might collapse if another earthquake struck, they left, she added.

Like many others, they first took shelter on the roadside before moving to a makeshift camp set up on a football field with China-donated tents. China's donation is part of a larger humanitarian relief effort that brought in 13 batches of food, medicine, prefabricated shelters, fuel, and sanitation supplies.

"Chinese doctors also came. They checked our drinking water and gave health advice for my children," Ma Aye Aye said.

Her husband, a car driver, has struggled to return to work. With roads damaged and daily life disrupted, jobs have been slow to resume, local residents said.

In another part of the camp, 72-year-old Daw Aye Aye Chit shares a China-donated tent with six other family members. "We used to sleep on the street, with nothing above us," she recalled. "Now, we have tents, beds, and lights," she said.

Win Hlaing Phyo, a medical doctor and team leader with Myanmar's Ministry of Health's Central Epidemiological Unit in Mandalay, who is working at a relief camp housing China-donated tents, said the shelters have been a great help.

Xinhua

YANGON -- The 12th batch of emergency humanitarian in-kind assistance dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Thursday in Yangon, Myanmar.

The aid supplies included 17,000 tons of gasoline, which were accepted by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 7, the earthquake has claimed around 3,800 lives and injured over 5,100 people, with around 100 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's official data.

YANGON -- The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar.

The aid supplies include 340 prefabricated houses, which were received by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein during a handover ceremony.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 2, the earthquake has claimed 3,839 lives and injured 5,105 people, with 101 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's official data.

YANGON -- A total of 653 survivors have been rescued by emergency teams following Myanmar's 7.9-magnitude earthquake as of Thursday, the state-owned daily Myanma Alinn reported on Friday.

Both local and international rescue teams carried out search and rescue operations. They were also able to retrieve 779 bodies as of Thursday, the report added.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 1, the disaster has claimed 3,835 lives and injured 5,105 people, with 105 others still unaccounted for, official data showed.

YANGON -- The tenth batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Friday in Yangon, Myanmar.

The aid supplies included 18,000 tons of diesel oil. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein accepted them in Yangon.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 1, the earthquake has claimed 3,835 lives and injured 5,105 people, with 105 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's official data.

One month after being rocked by a devastating earthquake, millions of people in Myanmar remain in need of more humanitarian assistance from the international community to help with the recovery process that could take months and even years, aid groups said while China's relief efforts were appreciated.

More than 6.3 million people are in urgent need of support, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Myanmar, Marcoluigi Corsi, said in a statement on Monday.

Additional and quick disbursement of resources and sustained access to all communities are vital to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further for people already living with severe needs, Corsi said.

"I call on the international community to stand with them — and to support their right to live in safety and dignity," the UN official added.

On March 28, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar. The toll stood at 3,770 people killed and over 5,000 people injured as of Monday, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported.

More than 150 aftershocks have taken place since the quake, according to Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

"Thousands and thousands of families are still living out in the open. They are living in the tents or under tarpaulins that they have put together with wooden poles," said Nadia Khoury, head of delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC, in Myanmar.

As the cyclone and monsoon seasons will start soon, Khoury told China Daily that the situation will be even more challenging, so more support from the international community is needed.

Khoury said the IFRC has been working with its members, including the Myanmar Red Cross Society, to provide safe drinking water, mobile clinic service, emergency shelter and relief items, as well as specific items to meet the needs of children and women.

Emergency appeal

"We are also very eager to swiftly move for early recovery for those individuals," said Khoury, adding the IFRC had launched a 100 million Swiss Francs ($121 million) emergency appeal.

Khoury praised the quick response by the Red Cross Society of China, or RCSC, which sent a rescue team just one day after the earthquake.

"They have provided very generous support," Khoury said, adding that she expects more cooperation with the RCSC in terms of expertise sharing and distribution of relief items.

Apart from the 100 million yuan ($13.7 million) worth of emergency humanitarian aid announced soon after the earthquake, China also pledged 1 billion yuan in additional aid to Myanmar, with expert teams to be sent for healthcare and reconstruction, according to the Chinese embassy in Myanmar.

Globally, a number of organizations have launched fundraising appeals to support Myanmar. On April 28, the United Nations Population Fund launched a flash appeal for $12 million to provide assistance to nearly 700,000 people, with a focus on essential sexual and reproductive health services.

Noting that the earthquake has exacerbated preexisting vulnerabilities in Myanmar, which is facing severe humanitarian challenges due to domestic conflict, the International Rescue Committee, a nongovernmental organization in New York, said in a statement that more funding is required to deliver life-saving aid, restore essential services, and prevent further loss of life.

YANGON -- The death toll from a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,770 as of April 28, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Tuesday.

In addition, 5,106 people were injured and 106 people were reported missing, the report said.

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 -- Myanmar has experienced a total of 157 aftershocks following the devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake on March 28, the country's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported on Monday.

The aftershocks ranged from magnitude 2.8 to 7.5, the department said.

As of April 25, the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 3,763, while 5,107 people were injured and 110 people reported missing, the official daily Myanma Alinn reported.

YANGON -- More than 200,000 people have been displaced after a powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, the official daily The Mirror reported Saturday, citing the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC).

At the NDMC's third meeting of the year, held Friday in Nay Pyi Taw, Committee Chairman Vice Senior General Soe Win said the earthquake caused widespread destruction across 10 regions and states, including Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, Magway, and Shan.

He reported that 3,763 people have been killed and 5,107 injured, while 110 remained missing as of Friday. In total, 629,206 people from 128,965 households were directly affected.

As of April 23, 48,656 of the total displaced people have been sheltering in 135 rescue centers, while 159,239 others have relocated independently, according to the report.

Despite being affected, more than 421,000 people have remained in their homes as their houses are still livable, Soe Win said.

Search and rescue operations, along with damage assessments and recovery work, are underway in hard-hit areas like Sagaing, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw, he added.

The earthquake destroyed or damaged over 63,000 homes, 6,700 schools, 5,400 monasteries, 5,300 pagodas, and hundreds of other religious buildings, hospitals, bridges, roads, and dams, he said.

International medical teams, including 337 foreign personnel, have set up temporary hospitals in the worst-affected areas and are providing care alongside local health workers.

Soe Win said the funds donated by local and international donors via the NDMC are being systematically distributed for rescue and recovery efforts.

Following a request for international assistance by the Myanmar government, 2,095 rescue workers from 26 countries and regions have arrived in Myanmar, bringing over 3,800 tons of relief supplies using 147 planes, seven ships, and 23 vehicles, he added.

Authorities are inspecting damaged buildings using a color-coded system -- blue, orange, and red -- to assess structural damage and guide repairs.

Temporary housing, including bashas and modular shelters, is being built for displaced staff and residents, while plans are underway to reconstruct homes using earthquake-resistant designs based on soil testing and fault-line assessments.

Since the earthquake on March 28, Myanmar has experienced over 150 aftershocks, and rescue and recovery operations are ongoing, the report said.

YANGON -- The ninth batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government on Saturday arrived in Yangon, Myanmar, according to a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Saturday.

The aid supplies included 68,000 doses of tetanus vaccines (adsorbed), 570,000 doses of recombinant B subunit cholera vaccine for adults, and 77,910 doses of recombinant B subunit cholera vaccine for children, the statement said.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of April 26, the earthquake has claimed 3,769 lives and injured 5,106 people, with 107 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's official data.

YANGON -- The death toll from a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,763 as of Friday, the official daily Myanma Alinn reported on Saturday.

In addition, 5,107 people were injured and 110 people reported missing, the report said.

At the request of the Myanmar government, China has dispatched a team to assess disaster losses following a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian country in late March, according to the China Earthquake Administration.

The team, organized by the administration, was sent last Wednesday and is expected to provide scientific support for Myanmar's post-disaster reconstruction and disaster prevention efforts, the agency said in a statement.

Composed of 30 experts from universities and research institutions across China, the team has completed disaster investigations and assessments in Yangon, Bago and Nay Pyi Taw. The experts evaluated the earthquake's intensity and scope in these areas and offered recommendations for emergency response and repair of damaged homes.

On Tuesday, the team moved to Mandalay to continue its work.

According to the administration, this is the first professional assessment team sent by the Chinese government to the quake-hit region in Myanmar after local efforts transitioned from emergency rescue to epidemic prevention and recovery.

YANGON -- As of Tuesday, 52 people have been rescued, and 103 bodies have been recovered from the collapsed Sky Villa condo in central Myanmar's Mandalay region, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Wednesday.

The building collapsed after a powerful earthquake struck on March 28, the report said.

The Myanmar Rescue Team, Mandalay Region Fire Services Department, and the Mandalay Region government personnel have been carrying out rescue and clearance operations since March 28 at the collapsed site of Sky Villa, it added.

The earthquake has caused the deaths of 3,759 people and injuries to 5,107 others, with 114 individuals still reported missing nationwide as of Tuesday, according to Global New Light of Myanmar.

YANGON -- The seventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government on Sunday arrived at Yangon International Airport, Myanmar, which was hit by a devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake on March 28.

The aid supplies include 800,000 boxes of amoxicillin capsules, 122,000 bottles of paracetamol and mannitol injection, 225,000 boxes of cefradine capsules, and 480,000 bottles of ibuprofen tablets, with a total weight of 95 tons.

The earthquake has claimed 3,726 lives and injuring 5,105 people, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's official data.

KUNMING -- A Chinese health team consisting of 50 members departed for Myanmar on Saturday to assist with post-disaster epidemic prevention following a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the country in March.

The team, assembled at Myanmar's request as part of China's expanded humanitarian aid announced on April 10, includes 12 members from Beijing and 38 medical experts from Kunming, capital city of Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Equipped with emergency medical supplies and equipment, the team will focus on mitigating disease risks in quake-affected regions.

The team will work primarily in Mandalay, one of the hardest-hit regions, to implement disease prevention and control measures. Tasks will include infectious disease risk assessment, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory testing, environmental disinfection, vector control, drinking water safety inspection, public health education, and technical training for local personnel.

The team includes experts from the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA) and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chen Lei, deputy director of the NDCPA's emergency response department and leader of the mission, said that the earthquake has severely damaged public health infrastructure, and that extreme heat and torrential rains have exacerbated outbreaks of cholera, measles, dengue fever and malaria.

The earthquake jolted Myanmar on March 28, claiming 3,726 lives and injuring 5,105 people, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to official data on Saturday.

YANGON -- As the response to Myanmar's 7.9-magnitude earthquake transitions from emergency relief to long-term recovery, there is an urgent need for sustained support in rebuilding housing infrastructures, restoring water and electricity, and enabling economic recovery, Yasmine Praz Dessimoz, director of Operations of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said.

Beyond emergency response, recovery efforts have to be sustained in the long run, for local people to resume a normal life, she told Xinhua in an interview.

Stark challenges persist as earthquake-affected areas face crises like loss of livelihoods, damaged infrastructure and psychological trauma, and the monsoon season threatens makeshift shelters, she said.

The ICRC official said that the organization plans to expand livelihood programs and collaborate with local authorities and international partners, focusing on restoring local livelihood, water and food supply, and the health sector.

The ICRC will work closely with the Myanmar Red Cross Society and partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Red Cross Society of China, in deploying the best personnel and expertise to address both immediate and systemic vulnerabilities of earthquake-affected regions, she said.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19.

The Red Cross Society of China has sent four batches of relief materials and rescue equipment to the earthquake-stricken Myanmar, with a total value of nearly 7.62 million yuan ($1.04 million) and a combined weight of 242.5 metric tons, the organization said on Thursday as it wraps up its international aid mission there.

The magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit Myanmar on March 28, with its epicenter in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. The quake has killed more than 3,700 people and injured over 5,000.

China's Red Cross said that it has dispatched 37 experienced rescue workers from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and the provinces of Zhejiang, Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou to carry out emergency rescue operations.

As of Thursday, the organization's rescue team has also set up three temporary settlements that can accommodate about 6,300 people in Mandalay and the nation's capital Nay Pyi Daw.

They have also installed water supply equipment to provide clean water for 15,000 individuals and constructed emergency toilets capable of meeting needs of 5,000 people.

Additionally, they have trained 271 local volunteers in the fields of water supply, public health, tent construction and epidemic prevention and disinfection for Myanmar's Red Cross.

YANGON -- The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 17:00 Beijing time (0300 GMT) on Saturday, the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of eight Chinese citizens and injuries to 13 others.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,689 lives and left 5,020 people injured, with 139 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on Friday.

YANGON -- The powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar has claimed 3,689 lives and left 5,020 people injured, with 139 others remaining unaccounted for as of Friday, according to the country's State Administration Council Information Team.

China has decided to provide Myanmar with a new batch of emergency humanitarian supplies including refined oil, prefabricated houses, operation rooms, medicines, and vaccines, which are much needed in the country's epidemic prevention and reconstruction after the earthquake last month.

China will also send teams of medical experts to the neighboring country for treatment and disinfection, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a daily news briefing on Thursday.

Experts will also be sent for inspection, assessment and restoration of buildings and cultural relics in the Southeast Asian nation, Lin said.

After the earthquake, over 30 rescue teams with more than 600 rescue workers from China went to Myanmar and multi batches of emergency humanitarian supplies were provided to the country, which displays China's speed, effectiveness and warmth, he said.

China was the first country to announce humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, the first to send rescue teams, he said, adding that it also saved the first survivor in Myanmar and is the first country to set up a settlement center in the earthquake-stricken area.

China's rescue efforts were warmly welcomed and commended by the people in Myanmar, Lin said.

"A merciless disaster brings out the best of humanity," he said, pledging continuous help to the people in Myanmar to overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes.

The second batch of humanitarian relief supplies donated by the Red Cross Society of China to quake-stricken Myanmar arrived in the city of Mandalay near the epicenter in the evening of Tuesday, said the organization.

China's Red Cross sent four heavy-duty trucks loaded with emergency equipment to address hygiene, epidemic prevention and livelihood needs in affected areas. Key equipment include clean water units, mobile toilets, electric generators, lighting and disinfection devices.

These supplies were transported through a land port in Southwest China's Kunming, Yunan province, and reached Mandalay under the escort of local police.

The 7.9 magnitude quake hit Myanmar with an epicenter near Mandalay on March 28.

The first batch of relief supplies from China's Red Cross comprised mainly tends, blankets, folding beds and family kits arrived in Mandalay on April 2.

Six Chinese citizens dead, 13 injured Myanmar's devastating earthquake: Chinese embassy

BANGKOK — Long-shot efforts to find survivors from Myanmar's devastating March 28 earthquake were winding down on Monday, as rescue efforts were supplanted by increasing relief and recovery activity. The death toll surpassed 3,600 and was still climbing.

A situation report issued on Monday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 17.2 million people are living in the affected areas, and urgently need food, drinking water, healthcare, cash assistance and emergency shelter.

In the capital Nay Pyi Daw, people cleared debris and collected wood from their damaged houses under drizzling rain, and soldiers removed wreckage at some Buddhist monasteries.

Myanmar Fire Services Department said on Monday that rescue teams had recovered 10 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city.

It said international rescuers from Singapore, Malaysia and India had returned to their countries after their work to find survivors was considered completed. The number of rescue teams operating in the residential areas of Nay Pyi Daw has been steadily decreasing.

The magnitude 7.9 quake hit a wide swath of the country, causing significant damage to six regions and states. The earthquake left many areas without power, telephone or cell connections and damaged roads and bridges, making the full extent of the devastation hard to assess.

Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for the State Administration Council, said on Monday that the quake's death toll has reached 3,600, with 5,017 injured and 160 missing. Search and rescue operations involved 1,738 personnel from 20 countries, and had helped find and extract 653 survivors, he said.

The quake has been officially named the Big Mandalay Earthquake to ensure consistency in future documentation and referencing, he added. Previous significant earthquakes also received official names.

The UN report said: "Entire communities have been upended, forcing people to seek shelter in makeshift conditions, disrupting markets, worsening psychosocial distress and bringing essential services — including running water, sanitation and health — to the verge of collapse.

"People left homeless by the earthquakes are exposed to extreme heat during the country's hottest and driest month of the year, and rains have already started in Mandalay — posing an additional threat to those sheltering in the open."

Agencies via Xinhua

YANGON -- The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar has climbed to 3,645, with 5,017 people injured and 148 still missing, as of 6 pm local time on Tuesday, according to a statement from the State Administration Council's Information Team.

They risked their lives to pull out nine people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings and guided many others to safety, but that is not the count they keep. 

For members of the Chinese teams that assisted in rescue and relief efforts in Myanmar, after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Southeast Asian country on March 28, it is the number of people they could not save, despite doing their best, that matters more.

As 54 Chinese rescuers returned as heroes on Sunday from Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar, to Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan province, after a week of demonstrating extraordinary courage and endurance, their hearts still bleed for the victims of the quake.

Chen Ying, a member of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team, said her deepest regret was not being able to save a person trapped under the rubble of a building, because an excavator needed for the rescue could not reach the site on time.

Chen was among the 17 Chinese Red Cross rescuers who arrived in Yangon on March 30. They engaged in search and rescue operations and provided medical aid and emotional support for earthquake survivors in Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar.

"In this rescue mission, the most heartbreaking and regretful moment for me was at location 107. We went there three times, and had all our supplies ready. The team was determined to save one of the three individuals trapped under the building, because there were definite signs of life," she said.

Unfortunately, the Chinese rescuers failed to receive heavy equipment support on time, and it was too late by the time they did. "We felt a surge of pain when the body was brought out. It is a regret we will have to live with," she added.

Besides the Chinese Red Cross team, a 37-member rescue and medical team from Yunnan also returned on Sunday. It was the first international rescue team to arrive in Myanmar within 18 hours of the earthquake. The team carried out rescue operations and actively assisted Myanmar in developing infectious disease prevention plans in the quake-hit areas.

Both teams were warmly welcomed upon their arrival in Kunming on Sunday afternoon. While the flight crew paid a special tribute to the heroes in a cabin broadcast, local people greeted them with rounds of applause. 

In addition to these two teams, Chinese civil squads such as the Blue Sky Rescue Team — the largest nongovernmental humanitarian organization in China — played a key role in rescue and relief efforts in Myanmar. 

"Our team members from across China volunteered to join the rescue operations. ... They arrived in Myanmar from places such as Beijing, Tianjin and Jiangsu province at their own expense," said Xu Jingxia, a member of the Blue Sky Rescue Team.

"We carried out the first round of search and rescue within the critical 72 hours, and continued for another two to three days under the scorching 40 C temperature," Xu said, adding that the whole team returned from Myanmar on Monday.

Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing, who visited the camp of Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay on Sunday, said the prompt arrival of rescuers from China exemplified the profound fraternal friendship between the two countries.

Chinese rescue teams have extensive experience in cross-border search and rescue operations, and Myanmar looks forward to strengthening communication with China to expand cooperation in emergency response, disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, he added.

Contact the writers at xunuo@chinadaily.com.cn

After reporting for five days from earthquake-hit Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, I arrived in Yangon, the capital, on Saturday night, when the news of a rainstorm hitting Mandalay popped up on my phone.

At the same time, I received a video message from the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team, the members of which are still at the forefront of post-disaster relief efforts in Mandalay. The video clip showed heavy rainfall and strong winds bringing down tents and a Chinese rescue worker shouting, "Evacuate immediately, do not try to secure the tents!"

Tons of relief materials freshly transported from China were stacked under these tents. Brave volunteers were trying to save the supplies, disregarding their own safety in the storm. For them, it was duty — a continuation of their work there.

Since the magnitude 7.9 earthquake rocked Myanmar on March 28, hundreds of rescue team members and volunteers from China have rushed to Mandalay to assist in rescue and relief operations.

On Friday, the Chinese teams completed the first phase of intense rescue efforts and shifted their focus to post-disaster relief work, including distributing relief supplies and setting up resettlement areas for survivors.

With the support of the local government, rows of tents were swiftly erected by the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team. At the same time, waste management efforts and the construction of temporary toilets, roads and fire exits were underway, all of which embodied what is popularly called "China speed".

As the scorching 40 C heat in Mandalay sapped energy on Friday, Sun Huamao, head of the tent construction team, said: "It's too hot. The team has been conducting search and rescue operations for several days. Everyone is exhausted."

However, they can't take a break. Not yet. As aftershocks and storms still threaten quake survivors sleeping on the streets, the resettlement areas must be ready without delay. To facilitate the work of the Chinese teams, many local residents are providing vehicles and provisional accommodations.

Zhu Hongzhan, a local jade merchant and member of the Myanmar Yunnan (China) Chamber of Commerce in Mandalay, was among those who volunteered to work with the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team. Over the past week, many of his co-workers from the chamber of commerce, who are all descendants of Chinese immigrants, have provided the first landing point and transit station for the rescue teams from China.

Zhu's 92-year-old mother told me: "I've experienced a lot in my life — wars, floods, coups, fires, earthquakes. The disasters may ruin everything we have, but we must always have the courage to keep on living."

The old woman is one of the locals I believe I will remember for a long time. The other is a 7-year-old girl, with whom my colleague, photographer Wei Xiaohao, spent some time playing soccer.

After one of their games, the little girl told me, "It's a happy day." When I asked her why, she replied, "Playing ball with Chinese people." I asked, "Are you friends (with Wei) now?" She said, "Yes."

When Wei told the girl we were leaving on Saturday, she didn't say a word, but hugged us tightly.

I hope all these people will continue to live on with courage and be safe.

Xu Nuo in Beijing contributed to this story.

YANGON -- The death toll from Myanmar's earthquake reached 3,564 as of Sunday evening, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council reported.

In addition, 5,012 people were injured and 210 remained missing due to the earthquake.

Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing visited the camp of Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay on Sunday to express his gratitude to all members of the China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team and a rescue team from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for their full-force disaster response following the magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck on March 28.

The arrival of Chinese rescue teams to provide support from afar exemplified the profound "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries, Min Aung Hlaing said.

Chinese rescue teams have extensive experience in cross-border search and rescue operations, and Myanmar looks forward to strengthening communication with China to expand cooperation in emergency response, disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, he added.

As of Sunday night, the earthquake has killed 3,564 people and injured 5,012 in Myanmar, and 210 were still missing, China Central Television quoted local authorities as saying. Chinese rescue teams had successfully rescued nine survivors.

On Saturday night, heavy rain and strong winds battered Mandalay, but China's rescue teams persisted on the front line of earthquake relief efforts.

At around 8 pm on Saturday, the Mandalay and Sagaing regions, which were hit hardest by the earthquake, experienced severe rainfall and strong winds.

With the ongoing threat of aftershocks and the safety hazards posed by damaged buildings, a large number of local residents had to set up temporary shelters in open spaces and along main roads, according to Myanmar media.

A Chinese rescue team member in Mandalay said on  early Sunday that the rain had stopped, but the roads were severely flooded. The wind had been extremely fierce before the rain, blowing over many of the temporary tents.

A video from Chinese rescue workers in Mandalay showed the heavy rainfall and strong winds causing tents to sway dangerously before quickly collapsing in the powerful wind. People were seen rushing for cover in the pouring rain, with a Chinese man urgently shouting: "Evacuate immediately, do not try to secure the tents!"

The extreme weather has also caused power outages in several areas where electricity had just been restored.

Despite the stormy conditions, Chinese rescue teams carried on their work.

Xu Jingxia, a member of the Blue Sky Rescue Team from China, who had arranged buses for Chinese rescue teams in Yangon soon after the earthquake, traveled to Mandalay with fellow rescuers on Saturday upon hearing of the storm.

Chinese rescue teams braved the rain to set up tents for local residents, said Xu. "The situation here is still OK — at least everyone is safe. I hope everyone will rest assured."

Yu Birong, a resident in Mandalay who volunteered to work with the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team after the quake, expressed gratitude that the team had set up tents in the relocation area, which allowed people to stay safe amid Saturday's storm.

Zhu Hongzhan, a member of the Mandalay branch of the Myanmar Yunnan (China) Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer with the Chinese Red Cross response team, said, "The unity and strength of the Chinese people have provided great help and encouragement to everyone, giving us the confidence to overcome this difficult situation."

The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology issued a warning for potential heavy rainfall nationwide on Sunday and Monday, advising the public to remain vigilant for extreme weather conditions such as strong winds, thunderstorms and hail.

Chinese rescue and medical teams in Mandalay have also warned local people to be cautious of the risk of the transmission and outbreak of infectious diseases including dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing visited the camp of Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay on Sunday to thank them for their assistance in post-earthquake relief efforts, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said.

Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude for the full-scale support provided by Chinese rescuers, who traveled a long distance to help. He said their efforts demonstrated the strong friendship between the two countries.

He noted that Chinese rescue teams have extensive experience in international search and rescue operations and said Myanmar looks forward to strengthening communication and expanding cooperation with China in emergency response and disaster mitigation.

The camp houses the China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team, and a rescue team from Hong Kong.

As of Sunday, Chinese rescue teams had saved nine survivors following the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.

KUNMING -- A 37-member rescue and medical team from Southwest China's Yunnan province returned from Myanmar on Sunday afternoon, after completing their earthquake relief work.

A 7.9-magnitude quake struck Myanmar on March 28. At around 6:30 am Beijing time on March 29, the team from Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, took off from Kunming -- Yunnan's capital city -- to the quake-stricken areas in Myanmar boarding a flight, carrying with them life detectors, seismic warning systems, portable satellite telephones and drones.

As the first Chinese rescue team to arrive in Myanmar, they immediately joined forces with local firefighters and rescuers to carry out rescue and medical operations in the severely-affected Naypyidaw, which lasted for over 150 hours.

At 5 am March 30 local time, the team, joined by local forces, rescued an elderly person who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours at a local hospital.

A China Media Group report said on Wednesday that more than 500 Chinese rescue workers were in Myanmar for rescue and relief missions, all together. As of Thursday, Chinese rescue teams had successfully saved nine survivors from the quake-affected areas.

At noon on Saturday, the third batch of emergency humanitarian earthquake relief supplies provided by the Chinese government arrived in Yangon, Myanmar, China Central Television reported.

This batch includes 1,048 water purification devices, 10,000 mosquito nets, 15,000 first aid kits, and 400 tents.

The first two batches of China's humanitarian aid arrived in Myanmar on Monday and Thursday, respectively, and have already been distributed to the disaster-affected residents.

In addition, Chinese rescue forces, including the Chinese International Rescue and Search and the China Rescue and Search, have jointly carried out medical outreach activities in Mandalay, Myanmar.

As of 8 pm on Friday, the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has left 3,354 dead and 4,508 injured, and 220 missing, according to CCTV News.

Starting from Friday, the post-earthquake rescue efforts in Myanmar have entered the stages of epidemic prevention and control, as well as recovery and reconstruction.

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to assess and mobilize aid to support people affected by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar.

More than 25 search-and-rescue teams are working in the country, medical teams and supplies have been deployed, and water and shelter kits have been distributed in the regions affected, a UN spokesman said at a daily briefing on Friday.

On Thursday, more than 30 tons of medical supplies arrived in Myanmar, bringing the total to 100 tons since the earthquakes struck last week, he said.

In Mandalay, the epicenter of the earthquake and Myanmar's second-largest city, humanitarian workers on Tuesday provided food and cash assistance to more than 10,000 people. On Monday, over 20,000 people received cash in Mandalay and other areas.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCHR) has deployed emergency relief including plastic sheets and kitchen sets for 25,000 survivors in Mandalay, Sagaing and Bago, as well as the capital Nay Pyi Taw and Shan State, according to the agency.

The health response also continues, with three tons of medical supplies delivered to hospitals in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Nearly 30 field medical stations have been established in the most affected areas.

Water trucking operations have begun in Nay Pyi Taw, serving approximately 45,000 people, UN humanitarians said. More than 20 latrines have been constructed in displacement sites in Mandalay.

Assessments from multiple UN agencies have showed widespread destruction across central Myanmar to critical infrastructure, including health facilities, road networks and bridges, after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the country last week. UNHCHR estimated that in Mandalay, up to 80 percent of structures have collapsed.

Dozens of aftershocks continue, deepening people's fear and complicating humanitarian response efforts.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported that electricity and water supplies remain disrupted, worsening access to health services and heightening risks of waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks.

Increasing cases of acute watery diarrhoea were reported among people in displacement sites in Mandalay and Sagaing, along with dozens of cases of heat-related illness.

Humanitarians said that people affected need urgent healthcare and medical supplies, drinking water, food and other critical items. Tents and temporary shelter are also needed, as well as latrines and hygiene items.

The United Nations called for the international community to immediately step up funding to Myanmar, and ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach those most in need across the country.

"Our humanitarian colleagues are preparing a new appeal aligned with the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which calls for $1.1 billion as needs continue to outpace available supplies and response capacity," the UN spokesman said. "So far, less than 5 percent of this appeal has been received."

Zhang Guangrui, a 40-year-old volunteer with the Blue Sky Rescue Team from northern China, put on his sunglasses to hide his tears on the streets of Mandalay in Myanmar on Thursday afternoon.

An 84-year-old woman, whom Zhang's team had spent days trying to rescue, was confirmed dead earlier in the day, before she could be saved from a collapsed building.

I tried to talk with the woman's daughter on Wednesday. She cried, saying, "I have no energy to speak, and I just want to see my mother as soon as possible." I put away my recorder and hugged her.

On the following day, she courageously told the rescue team: "It's fine to let her rest here."

Zhang had led the team in digging through the ruins for three days and nights. With 17 years of rescue experience, Zhang, as a post-disaster rescue expert, tried multiple methods to rescue the elderly woman.

"This site is indeed the most complex and high-risk situation I've ever encountered," he said.

I have interviewed him five times in recent days. What he said most often was, "Let me check the site again".

More than 140 hours after the earthquake, despite the scorching heat of over 40 C, hundreds of Chinese rescuers continue their efforts with barely any sleep, as persistence brings hope.

Just as one survivor saved by Chinese rescuers said, it was the rescue team's presence that gave him the strong will to live.

When I was talking with Zhang one day on the street here, a voice came from behind, saying "Are you from China?"

It was a third-generation Chinese immigrant. With her hands pressed together in a gesture of gratitude, she spoke to me in a hoarse voice: "Thank you so much for coming all the way to help us."

As we were talking, dozens of disaster-affected people who had been resting nearby gathered around us. One by one, they asked me to convey their thanks to China.

"My dad works for a Chinese company, and he made me learn Chinese. During the earthquake, my sisters and I ran out without taking anything. We are now staying at a relative's house. Thank you to the Chinese volunteers for helping us get through this difficult time," a female resident said.

In addition to rescue efforts and providing supplies, post-disaster epidemic prevention work has also begun. The dense population, hot weather and scattered bodies yet to be cleared present a significant challenge to epidemic control efforts.

I also visited the headquarters of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team at a sports stadium where staff members' bags were piled up on the floor, and mosquito nets were arranged on the grass.

Not far away, a member of the Chinese Red Cross Society International Emergency Response Team slept the whole night next to a shipment of rescue supplies that had just arrived from China, as if guarding precious treasure.

I hope the perseverance of these Chinese rescue teams can bring about more miracles.

Chinese rescuers pulled a survivor out of the rubble of a collapsed hotel on Wednesday in the city of Mandalay, Myanmar, more than 120 hours after a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Southeast Asian nation on March 28.

The 52-year-old survivor, an employee of the hotel, was in stable condition and receiving treatment in a hospital, authorities said.

The rescue came at a time past the critical 72-hour post-disaster rescue window and as temperatures in the city soared above 40 C.

The death toll from the earthquake was 3,301 as of Friday, with the figure expected to rise as the search for survivors continues.

Yue Xin, team leader of China Search and Rescue Team Operation Group, who arrived in Myanmar on March 30, took part in the man's rescue.

"We used our equipment to accurately detect signs of life in the collapsed building and continuously heard responses, eventually confirming that the survivor was at the bottom of the collapsed hotel structure," Yue said.

The eight-story Golden Village Hotel partially collapsed during the earthquake, with its bottom three floors crumbling and the top five remaining relatively intact. After technical assessments indicated that the site was safe for rescue operations in the absence of aftershocks, rescue teams moved in.

"After six consecutive days of high temperatures, the chances of finding survivors were very low," Yue said, adding that the Chinese rescue teams have been persistent in their efforts.

China's disaster relief command center coordinated the response, deploying rescue personnel, technical experts and medical teams, Yue said.

Rescuers decided to enter from the ground level and drill downward, using an endoscope specifically designed for earthquake rescue to locate the man.

"This survivor must have had good earthquake survival knowledge," Yue said. "He sheltered between two beds, which provided protection from falling debris and prevented serious injury. The space had some ventilation after the collapse, and he had a pot of water nearby, which was crucial for his survival."

After establishing contact with the man using a translator, the team provided him with a saline solution to boost his energy before extracting him.

"I am extremely grateful to the Chinese rescue team. I could hear their search efforts, which gave me the faith to survive," the man said.

At 5:40 pm on Wednesday, rescuers lifted him onto a stretcher and transported him to a hospital.

The China International Search and Rescue Team, a rescue team from Hong Kong and the Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation also participated in the operation.

Other groups, including Blue Sky Rescue Team, have also been conducting search and rescue operations for more than 100 hours since arriving in Mandalay on March 30.

As of Thursday, Chinese teams had rescued nine trapped people in the quake's aftermath.

Resident Li Yanlin, whose house collapsed in the quake, and who is currently living by the banks of the ancient Mandalay Palace moat, expressed her gratitude to the rescue teams.

"Thank you, our Chinese friends. Whenever help is needed anywhere, you are the first to arrive," Li said.

"In recent days, we have seen Chinese volunteers in every street and alley, working day and night tirelessly in search and rescue efforts, and providing us with tents, food and water. Just now, they asked me if I needed anything, which made me feel very reassured," she said.

Mandalay's airport was destroyed in the quake, so rescue and relief teams have had to be bused in from Yangon, 12 hours away.

However, by Monday large quantities of Chinese rescue supplies, donations and medical teams had begun arriving, with various organizations coordinating aid distribution and post-disaster epidemic prevention efforts.

The Chinese embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 11 am on Friday, five Chinese citizens had been killed in the quake and 13 injured.

YANGON - Myanmar's recent earthquake has caused severe casualties, with 3,301 deaths, 4,792 people injured, and 221 reported missing, according to the official media Myanmar Radio and Television on Friday.

YANGON - The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 11:00 Beijing time (0300 GMT) on Friday, the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of five Chinese citizens and injuries to 13 others.

YANGON -- The death toll from a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,145, with 4,589 people injured and 221 missing, the Myanmar Radio and Television reported on Thursday.

The Myanmar Fire Services Department, in collaboration with international rescue teams, has been carrying out search and rescue operations, the report said.

So far, they have saved 653 people trapped under debris and recovered 626 bodies, it added.

As of Thursday morning, Myanmar has experienced 66 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2.8 to 7.5, according to the country's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

YANGON -- The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 16:00 Beijing time on Thursday, the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of four Chinese citizens and injuries to 13 others.

More than 120 hours after a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar, Chinese rescuers on Wednesday night pulled a 52-year-old man alive from the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Mandalay.

The rescue came after the critical 72-hour window had passed and as temperatures in the city soared above 40 degrees Celsius. The survivor was in stable condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital, authorities said.

"We used our equipment to accurately detect signs of life in the collapsed building and continuously received feedback, eventually confirming that the survivor was at the bottom of this collapsed hotel structure," said Yue Xin, team leader of Operation Group, China Search and Rescue Team.

Yue said the eight-story Golden Village Hotel partially collapsed during the 7.9-magnitude earthquake on March 28, with its bottom three floors crumbling while the top five remained relatively intact. After technical assessments deemed the site safe for rescue operations in the absence of aftershocks, teams moved in.

China's disaster relief command center coordinated the response, deploying rescue personnel, technical experts, and medical teams, Yue said.

Rescuers decided to enter from the ground level and drill downward, using an endoscope to locate the man.

"This survivor must have had good earthquake survival knowledge," Yue said. "He sheltered between two beds, which provided protection from falling debris and prevented serious injury. The space had some ventilation after the collapse, and he had a pot of water nearby, which were crucial for his survival."

After establishing contact with the man using a translator, the team provided him with saline solution before extracting him.

"After six consecutive days of high temperatures, the chances of finding survivors were very low. However, Chinese rescue personnel persisted in their search efforts," Yue said.

"I am extremely grateful to the Chinese rescue team. I could hear their search efforts, which gave me the faith to survive," the survivor said.

At 5:40 pm on Wednesday, rescuers lifted him onto a stretcher and transported him to a hospital.

The China International Search and Rescue Team, and a rescue team from Hong Kong, and the Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation also participated in the operation.

Other groups, including Blue Sky Rescue, have also been conducting continuous search-and-rescue operations for more than 100 hours since arriving in Mandalay on March 30.

As of Thursday, Chinese teams had rescued nine people trapped in the quake's aftermath.

"Thank you to our Chinese friends. Whenever help is needed anywhere in the world, you are the first to arrive," said Li Yanlin, a resident currently sleeping on a mat by the riverbank.

"In recent days, we have seen Chinese volunteers in every street and alley, working tirelessly day and night in search-and-rescue efforts, and providing us with tents, food, and water. Just now, they asked me if I needed anything, which made me feel very reassured," she said.

Mandalay's airport was paralyzed after the quake, requiring a 12-hour bus ride from Yangon for arriving relief teams. However, by Monday, large quantities of Chinese rescue supplies, donations, and medical teams had begun arriving, with various organizations coordinating aid distribution and post-disaster epidemic prevention efforts.

YANGON -- The death toll from a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,085, with 4,715 people injured and 341 reported missing, according to the Information Team of the State Administration Council on Thursday.

Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.

Aid groups in the worst-hit areas of Myanmar said there was an urgent need for shelter, food and water after an earthquake that killed more than 2,800 people as of Tuesday.

The death toll is expected to rise to more than 3,000, Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised address on Tuesday. He said 4,521 people were injured, and 441 were missing.

The 7.7 magnitude quake, which hit around lunchtime on Friday, was the strongest to hit the Southeast Asian country in more than a century, toppling ancient pagodas and modern buildings alike.

"In the hardest-hit areas … communities struggle to meet their basic needs, such as access to clean water and sanitation, while emergency teams work tirelessly to locate survivors and provide lifesaving aid," the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

Drinking water, hygiene, food, shelter and medicine are the most critical needs following extensive damage to buildings, roads and bridges, said Marcoluigi Corsi, acting humanitarian and resident coordinator of the UN following a two-day visit.

"Having lived through the terror of the earthquake, people now fear aftershocks and are sleeping outside on roads or in open fields," a worker from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Mandalay said in a report.

"We remain, of course, deeply committed to reaching people in Myanmar who need aid," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. "And we must act swiftly to provide relief before the upcoming monsoon season, which, of course, will even worsen this horrendous crisis."

Huge impact

Scientists emphasized the seismic event's significant force and the factors contributing to its impact.

US geologist Jess Phoenix described the earthquake's energy release as equivalent to 334 atomic bombs, warning that aftershocks will continue to pose a significant threat for months.

She highlighted the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates as a continuing source of seismic activity.

The Science Media Centre in the United Kingdom has compiled expert commentary, revealing a consensus on the earthquake's destructive potential.

Ian Watkinson, scholar from Royal Holloway, University of London, echoed these concerns, noting the earthquake's likely propagation along the Sagaing Fault, potentially up to 200 kilometers.

He highlighted the vulnerability of Mandalay and other regional cities, which have experienced rapid high-rise concrete construction, often on the floodplains of the Irrawaddy River.

Giving aid

Rescue workers, sniffer dogs, paramedics and millions of dollars in aid have begun arriving in Myanmar after a massive earthquake ravaged much of the country.

China has announced $14 million in assistance for Myanmar, including 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets and 40,000 first aid kits.

Chinese teams that arrived 18 hours after the quake and more than 400 Chinese personnel are now on the ground in the region.

China also has multiple teams in Thailand, according to Xinhua News Agency.

According to the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the initial supplies included tents, blankets and first aid kits.

The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations".

It said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID, which is undergoing massive cuts under the US administration, is being sent to Myanmar.

Two Russian aircraft carrying 60 rescue workers, four dogs, ambulances and rescue vehicles arrived in Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday, Myanmar's state broadcaster MRTV reported.

The Japanese government has dispatched a five-person assessment party that includes medical professionals to lay the groundwork for a larger emergency rescue team.

India sent a search and rescue team, medical professionals and a military transport aircraft filled with blankets, hygiene kits, food packets and other essential items on Saturday.

Vietnam has sent a team of more than 100 rescuers, medical staff and firefighters along with aid and sniffer dogs.

Thailand, which was also hit by the quake, has sent 55 air force personnel, including medics and search and rescue specialists, as well as medical supplies to Myanmar.

Indonesia's military said in a statement on Monday that it was sending emergency teams, including search and rescue workers, to Myanmar, as well as tents, food and logistical supplies.

Singapore has sent an 80-member team to assist with disaster rescue efforts. The government contributed about $112,000 as seed money to support the fundraising efforts of the Singapore Red Cross.

Agencies via Xinhua

A second batch of disaster-relief supplies from the Chinese government arrived in Yangon on Thursday after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28.

The shipment includes 800 tents, 2,000 blankets, 3,000 boxes of biscuits, 2,000 boxes of mineral water, and other urgently needed supplies. The aid was flown from Beijing Capital International Airport to Yangon on a chartered cargo plane on Thursday morning.

The first batch of Chinese disaster-relief supplies arrived in Myanmar on Monday.

Li Ming, spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said on Wednesday that China is ready to continue providing aid and support to the disaster-stricken people of Myanmar.

"With the joint efforts of China and the international community, the people of Myanmar will secure an early victory over the disaster and the reconstruction of their homeland," Li said.