China has swiftly mobilized aid and rescue teams to Myanmar following a powerful magnitude-7.9 earthquake that struck the country’s central region on Friday. The quake, one of Myanmar’s strongest in a century, has left over 2,000 people dead, nearly 4,000 injured, and hundreds missing, according to the State Administration Council.
Chinese rescuers have been on the ground since the disaster occurred. So far, they have saved six lives, including four individuals rescued on Monday morning after being trapped for nearly 60 hours, and two others pulled from the rubble on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun announced.
A cargo plane carrying the first batch of disaster relief materials provided by the Chinese government arrived at Yangon International Airport on Monday. The shipment includes 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets, and over 40,000 first aid kits. China has pledged to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) in aid.
In addition to governmental support, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, which shares a border with Myanmar, dispatched relief supplies worth 1 million yuan. The supplies, including face masks, protective clothing, and medicines, are being transported from the provincial capital Kunming to Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
On Sunday, a chartered flight from Kunming delivered approximately 7.3 tonnes of relief goods, including clothing, medicines, instant noodles, tents, and other daily necessities.
“We are working closely with Myanmar to ensure the swift delivery of aid,” said Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia. “Despite challenges like aftershocks, damaged infrastructure, and extreme heat, our teams are doing everything possible to assist in the relief efforts.”
Several Chinese rescue teams are operating in Myanmar’s hardest-hit areas, including a 51-member team from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, a 118-member international Chinese team, and various volunteer groups. They are providing much-needed assistance in cities such as Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay, which is near the earthquake’s epicenter.
“The first 72 hours are crucial,” said Kong Ka-ho, a rescue worker from the Hong Kong team. “We are prepared to set off very soon to aid in the search and rescue operations.”
According to Guo Jiakun, around 400 Chinese experts, rescue personnel, and medical workers are currently involved in Myanmar’s quake relief efforts.
Approximately 80 percent of buildings and homes in Sagaing, near the epicenter, have suffered varying degrees of destruction, with many completely collapsed, China Media Group reported.
Myanmar continues to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating quake, and international support is pouring in to aid the affected communities.
