China has extended condolences and offered assistance to Myanmar following a powerful earthquake that left more than 1,000 people dead.
President Xi Jinping sent a message to Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, expressing sorrow over the destruction and pledging support for relief efforts.
The earthquake, measuring 7.7 in magnitude, struck northwest of Sagaing on Friday afternoon, with a strong 6.7-magnitude aftershock soon after. The disaster devastated towns and cities, causing buildings to collapse, roads to crack, and bridges to buckle. In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, the damage was extensive, leaving many trapped under rubble.
The quake was also felt in parts of China’s Yunnan province and in Thailand. In Bangkok, a 30-story building under construction collapsed, trapping up to 100 workers, adding to the widespread chaos.
In response, China dispatched an 82-member rescue team to Myanmar, with additional aid workers from Yunnan arriving in Yangon. Myanmar’s military government made a rare international appeal for assistance, highlighting the scale of the crisis.
As emergency teams race to find survivors, Myanmar faces an immense challenge in recovering from one of its deadliest earthquakes in recent history.