Mandalay, Myanmar, was one of the worst-affected regions by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dao County in Yunnan province, China, on Friday. The shallow 7.7-magnitude quake rocked the entire state, only to be followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. In the immediate aftermath, emergency services are already overwhelmed. The country is still reeling from the long-term impacts of the military coup that took place in 2021.
As the full scale of destruction became clear, hospitals across the Sagaing and Mandalay regions soon became overwhelmed with patients. As the conflict deepened, the military regime—already overextended by the war—issued a public request for blood donors to help replenish their ranks. Within days, hundreds of casualties poured into Naypyidaw’s main hospital. The emergency department’s entrance lay collapsed across a parked car, further making access an issue.
“We stopped at the corner of the road because of the shaking. At that moment, a hospital collapsed right in front of me, like waffle sheets crumbling, and a large cloud of dust emerged like in the movie scene,” – Ko Ko
In Mandalay, the devastation was palpable. When the third floor of a burning hotel collapsed, it trapped firefighters, emergency responders and hotel owner inside. At the same time, the University of Mandalay soon became surrounded by raging thick flames, making the situation even more chaotic. The effects were worsened by communication issues when mobile networks collapsed hindering the search and rescue operations.
“The hotel collapsed up to the third floor, and hotel staff and the owner remain trapped,” – Nadi
The July 2023 earthquake continues to expose shortfalls in Myanmar’s emergency response capacity. The 2021 military coup and the subsequent civil war have put these essential services under extreme pressure. Unfortunately, many of those great resources were lost in the process. The junta’s tight grip on all media has further muddied the waters, as independent journalism has gone underground or into exile.
“The casualties, Nadi said, were becoming ‘higher and higher’.” – Nadi
Public safety concerns are increasing against the backdrop of worries that more vulnerable buildings could fall. The disaster shifted our attention back to the precariousness of most infrastructure in places subject to the double violence of geopolitics and climate.
“We are afraid that some weak buildings might collapse,” – Ko Ko
The military regime’s request for blood donors highlights the urgent need for medical help amid the escalating violence. While physical damages will eventually heal, emotional and psychological scars remain. These negative effects can remain for months and years, long after any emergency relief has been delivered.