A day after a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar, rescue teams are racing against time to pull survivors from the rubble in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city and the worst-hit area. According to Myanmar’s military leadership, the death toll has surged to 694, with over 1,670 injured. However, a U.S. agency has warned that fatalities could surpass 10,000 as the scale of destruction becomes clearer.

The tremors were so intense that they were felt nearly 900 kilometers away in Bangkok, Thailand, where several well-known structures and bridges collapsed. The quake also sent strong shockwaves through parts of India, particularly in Meghalaya and Manipur, as well as Bangladesh and China.

Survivors are sharing harrowing accounts of the disaster. One man recounted how he was trapped in the debris while using the washroom when the earthquake struck. As he and others attempted to find shelter in a different building, another tremor caused it to collapse. He managed to escape, but his grandmother, aunt, and uncles remain missing, and he fears they did not survive.

In response to the humanitarian crisis, India has dispatched 15 tonnes of emergency relief supplies, including food, solar lamps, and kitchen sets, aboard an IAF C-130J aircraft. Dubbed ‘Operation Brahma,’ the aid effort was announced by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who emphasized India’s commitment to being a first responder in the region.

Meanwhile, Thailand has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, where at least 10 people have died, and 100 construction workers remain unaccounted for after a partially built skyscraper collapsed due to the tremors. Rescue operations are underway to locate those trapped under the debris.

As the international community reacts, U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged assistance despite his administration’s recent budget cuts to USAID, which have slowed humanitarian efforts worldwide. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a grim forecast, warning that the final death toll could be devastatingly high.

The crisis has left Myanmar, already weakened by years of civil unrest, struggling with severe power and water shortages. In a rare appeal for global support, Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has urged nations and organizations to provide assistance. “I invite any country, any organization, or anyone in Myanmar to come and help. Thank you,” he stated, signaling an unprecedented openness to foreign aid.

China and Russia have swiftly responded by sending rescue teams and emergency supplies to the disaster-stricken nation.

Experts note that Myanmar sits atop the highly active Sagaing fault line, which has a history of devastating earthquakes. Previous significant quakes include a 7.7-magnitude event in 1946 and a 6.8-magnitude tremor in 2012. The latest catastrophe underscores the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and response measures in the region.