A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, claiming over 2,000 lives and devastating cities like Mandalay and Sagaing. With the military junta reporting 2,056 deaths, 3,900 injuries, and 270 people still missing, rescue teams from Hong Kong and China have stepped in to assist in the challenging aftermath.
Hong Kong’s 51-member search and rescue team, equipped with professional tools and search dogs, arrived in Naypyidaw on Sunday. After resting briefly at the Myanmar National Centre for Disease Control and consulting with Chinese embassy officials, they were directed to Mandalay, a heavily impacted city. A nighttime curfew delayed their travel, but they reached Mandalay by Monday morning. Now split into two groups, they are working in disaster zones, searching through debris for survivors.
China has also responded swiftly, sending over 135 rescue personnel and committing around US$13.8 million in aid. A convoy of 17 cargo trucks carrying shelter, emergency supplies, and medical gear was dispatched to Mandalay on Sunday. In a notable effort, Chinese rescuers collaborated with Russian and local teams to free a woman trapped for 60 hours under the collapsed Great Wall Hotel in Mandalay. After a five-hour operation, she was rescued in stable condition, according to the Chinese embassy. Three Chinese nationals perished in the quake, and diplomats are supporting their families.
The earthquake’s reach extended to Bangkok, where a collapsing tower killed 19, while Sagaing alone reported at least 1,700 deaths. With communications down and infrastructure in ruins, locals like Soe Min, a 24-year-old from Sagaing, feel abandoned, saying, “We are on our own.” Hong Kong and China’s contributions are helping to fill this void. Joyce Ching Tak-kwan of the Hong Kong Red Cross highlighted that 70 percent of buildings in some areas are damaged, leaving people to sleep on the streets. To address long-term needs, Hong Kong’s Post Crisis Counseling Network will send psychological support teams monthly starting mid-May, offering free care to victims for a year.
As part of a wider international effort—including aid from Russia, India, and the UN—Hong Kong and China’s teams are making a difference. In Mandalay, where three others were pulled from rubble alongside a woman who survived 30 hours, their work provides hope. With aftershocks continuing and the death toll likely to rise, these efforts are a critical support for Myanmar in one of its darkest moments.