The China Story
at your Fingertips
OPEN
The death toll has risen to 3,798, with 5,106 injured and 106 people reported missing.
Eight Chinese nationals were confirmed dead, 13 injured in the strong earthquake.
They risked their lives to pull out nine people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings and guided many others to safety, but that is not the count they keep.
For members of the Chinese teams that assisted in rescue and relief efforts in Myanmar, after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Southeast Asian country on March 28, it is the number of people they could not save, despite doing their best, that matters more.
As 54 Chinese rescuers returned as heroes on Sunday from Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar, to Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan province, after a week of demonstrating extraordinary courage and endurance, their hearts still bleed for the victims of the quake.
Chen Ying, a member of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team, said her deepest regret was not being able to save a person trapped under the rubble of a building, because an excavator needed for the rescue could not reach the site on time.
Chen was among the 17 Chinese Red Cross rescuers who arrived in Yangon on March 30. They engaged in search and rescue operations and provided medical aid and emotional support for earthquake survivors in Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar.
"In this rescue mission, the most heartbreaking and regretful moment for me was at location 107. We went there three times, and had all our supplies ready. The team was determined to save one of the three individuals trapped under the building, because there were definite signs of life," she said.
Unfortunately, the Chinese rescuers failed to receive heavy equipment support on time, and it was too late by the time they did. "We felt a surge of pain when the body was brought out. It is a regret we will have to live with," she added.
Besides the Chinese Red Cross team, a 37-member rescue and medical team from Yunnan also returned on Sunday. It was the first international rescue team to arrive in Myanmar within 18 hours of the earthquake. The team carried out rescue operations and actively assisted Myanmar in developing infectious disease prevention plans in the quake-hit areas.
Both teams were warmly welcomed upon their arrival in Kunming on Sunday afternoon. While the flight crew paid a special tribute to the heroes in a cabin broadcast, local people greeted them with rounds of applause.
In addition to these two teams, Chinese civil squads such as the Blue Sky Rescue Team — the largest nongovernmental humanitarian organization in China — played a key role in rescue and relief efforts in Myanmar.
"Our team members from across China volunteered to join the rescue operations. ... They arrived in Myanmar from places such as Beijing, Tianjin and Jiangsu province at their own expense," said Xu Jingxia, a member of the Blue Sky Rescue Team.
"We carried out the first round of search and rescue within the critical 72 hours, and continued for another two to three days under the scorching 40 C temperature," Xu said, adding that the whole team returned from Myanmar on Monday.
Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing, who visited the camp of Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay on Sunday, said the prompt arrival of rescuers from China exemplified the profound fraternal friendship between the two countries.
Chinese rescue teams have extensive experience in cross-border search and rescue operations, and Myanmar looks forward to strengthening communication with China to expand cooperation in emergency response, disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, he added.
Contact the writers at xunuo@chinadaily.com.cn
YANGON -- The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar has climbed to 3,645, with 5,017 people injured and 148 still missing, as of 6 pm local time on Tuesday, according to a statement from the State Administration Council's Information Team.
After reporting for five days from earthquake-hit Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, I arrived in Yangon, the capital, on Saturday night, when the news of a rainstorm hitting Mandalay popped up on my phone.
At the same time, I received a video message from the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team, the members of which are still at the forefront of post-disaster relief efforts in Mandalay. The video clip showed heavy rainfall and strong winds bringing down tents and a Chinese rescue worker shouting, "Evacuate immediately, do not try to secure the tents!"
Tons of relief materials freshly transported from China were stacked under these tents. Brave volunteers were trying to save the supplies, disregarding their own safety in the storm. For them, it was duty — a continuation of their work there.
Since the magnitude 7.9 earthquake rocked Myanmar on March 28, hundreds of rescue team members and volunteers from China have rushed to Mandalay to assist in rescue and relief operations.
On Friday, the Chinese teams completed the first phase of intense rescue efforts and shifted their focus to post-disaster relief work, including distributing relief supplies and setting up resettlement areas for survivors.
With the support of the local government, rows of tents were swiftly erected by the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team. At the same time, waste management efforts and the construction of temporary toilets, roads and fire exits were underway, all of which embodied what is popularly called "China speed".
As the scorching 40 C heat in Mandalay sapped energy on Friday, Sun Huamao, head of the tent construction team, said: "It's too hot. The team has been conducting search and rescue operations for several days. Everyone is exhausted."
However, they can't take a break. Not yet. As aftershocks and storms still threaten quake survivors sleeping on the streets, the resettlement areas must be ready without delay. To facilitate the work of the Chinese teams, many local residents are providing vehicles and provisional accommodations.
Zhu Hongzhan, a local jade merchant and member of the Myanmar Yunnan (China) Chamber of Commerce in Mandalay, was among those who volunteered to work with the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team. Over the past week, many of his co-workers from the chamber of commerce, who are all descendants of Chinese immigrants, have provided the first landing point and transit station for the rescue teams from China.
Zhu's 92-year-old mother told me: "I've experienced a lot in my life — wars, floods, coups, fires, earthquakes. The disasters may ruin everything we have, but we must always have the courage to keep on living."
The old woman is one of the locals I believe I will remember for a long time. The other is a 7-year-old girl, with whom my colleague, photographer Wei Xiaohao, spent some time playing soccer.
After one of their games, the little girl told me, "It's a happy day." When I asked her why, she replied, "Playing ball with Chinese people." I asked, "Are you friends (with Wei) now?" She said, "Yes."
When Wei told the girl we were leaving on Saturday, she didn't say a word, but hugged us tightly.
I hope all these people will continue to live on with courage and be safe.
Xu Nuo in Beijing contributed to this story.
YANGON -- The death toll from Myanmar's earthquake reached 3,564 as of Sunday evening, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council reported.
In addition, 5,012 people were injured and 210 remained missing due to the earthquake.
Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing visited the camp of Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay on Sunday to express his gratitude to all members of the China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team and a rescue team from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for their full-force disaster response following the magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck on March 28.
The arrival of Chinese rescue teams to provide support from afar exemplified the profound "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries, Min Aung Hlaing said.
Chinese rescue teams have extensive experience in cross-border search and rescue operations, and Myanmar looks forward to strengthening communication with China to expand cooperation in emergency response, disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, he added.
As of Sunday night, the earthquake has killed 3,564 people and injured 5,012 in Myanmar, and 210 were still missing, China Central Television quoted local authorities as saying. Chinese rescue teams had successfully rescued nine survivors.
On Saturday night, heavy rain and strong winds battered Mandalay, but China's rescue teams persisted on the front line of earthquake relief efforts.
At around 8 pm on Saturday, the Mandalay and Sagaing regions, which were hit hardest by the earthquake, experienced severe rainfall and strong winds.
With the ongoing threat of aftershocks and the safety hazards posed by damaged buildings, a large number of local residents had to set up temporary shelters in open spaces and along main roads, according to Myanmar media.
A Chinese rescue team member in Mandalay said on early Sunday that the rain had stopped, but the roads were severely flooded. The wind had been extremely fierce before the rain, blowing over many of the temporary tents.
A video from Chinese rescue workers in Mandalay showed the heavy rainfall and strong winds causing tents to sway dangerously before quickly collapsing in the powerful wind. People were seen rushing for cover in the pouring rain, with a Chinese man urgently shouting: "Evacuate immediately, do not try to secure the tents!"
The extreme weather has also caused power outages in several areas where electricity had just been restored.
Despite the stormy conditions, Chinese rescue teams carried on their work.
Xu Jingxia, a member of the Blue Sky Rescue Team from China, who had arranged buses for Chinese rescue teams in Yangon soon after the earthquake, traveled to Mandalay with fellow rescuers on Saturday upon hearing of the storm.
Chinese rescue teams braved the rain to set up tents for local residents, said Xu. "The situation here is still OK — at least everyone is safe. I hope everyone will rest assured."
Yu Birong, a resident in Mandalay who volunteered to work with the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team after the quake, expressed gratitude that the team had set up tents in the relocation area, which allowed people to stay safe amid Saturday's storm.
Zhu Hongzhan, a member of the Mandalay branch of the Myanmar Yunnan (China) Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer with the Chinese Red Cross response team, said, "The unity and strength of the Chinese people have provided great help and encouragement to everyone, giving us the confidence to overcome this difficult situation."
The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology issued a warning for potential heavy rainfall nationwide on Sunday and Monday, advising the public to remain vigilant for extreme weather conditions such as strong winds, thunderstorms and hail.
Chinese rescue and medical teams in Mandalay have also warned local people to be cautious of the risk of the transmission and outbreak of infectious diseases including dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness.
Xinhua contributed to this story.
Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing visited the camp of Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay on Sunday to thank them for their assistance in post-earthquake relief efforts, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said.
Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude for the full-scale support provided by Chinese rescuers, who traveled a long distance to help. He said their efforts demonstrated the strong friendship between the two countries.
He noted that Chinese rescue teams have extensive experience in international search and rescue operations and said Myanmar looks forward to strengthening communication and expanding cooperation with China in emergency response and disaster mitigation.
The camp houses the China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team, and a rescue team from Hong Kong.
As of Sunday, Chinese rescue teams had saved nine survivors following the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
KUNMING -- A 37-member rescue and medical team from Southwest China's Yunnan province returned from Myanmar on Sunday afternoon, after completing their earthquake relief work.
A 7.9-magnitude quake struck Myanmar on March 28. At around 6:30 am Beijing time on March 29, the team from Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, took off from Kunming -- Yunnan's capital city -- to the quake-stricken areas in Myanmar boarding a flight, carrying with them life detectors, seismic warning systems, portable satellite telephones and drones.
As the first Chinese rescue team to arrive in Myanmar, they immediately joined forces with local firefighters and rescuers to carry out rescue and medical operations in the severely-affected Naypyidaw, which lasted for over 150 hours.
At 5 am March 30 local time, the team, joined by local forces, rescued an elderly person who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours at a local hospital.
A China Media Group report said on Wednesday that more than 500 Chinese rescue workers were in Myanmar for rescue and relief missions, all together. As of Thursday, Chinese rescue teams had successfully saved nine survivors from the quake-affected areas.
YANGON - The death toll from Myanmar's 7.9-magnitude earthquake rose to 3,471 as of Saturday, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Sunday.
According to the report, the earthquake has also injured 4,671 people and left 214 missing as of Saturday.
It added that local and international rescue organizations had rescued 653 people trapped in buildings after the earthquake, and 682 bodies had been retrieved from the rubble.
At noon on Saturday, the third batch of emergency humanitarian earthquake relief supplies provided by the Chinese government arrived in Yangon, Myanmar, China Central Television reported.
This batch includes 1,048 water purification devices, 10,000 mosquito nets, 15,000 first aid kits, and 400 tents.
The first two batches of China's humanitarian aid arrived in Myanmar on Monday and Thursday, respectively, and have already been distributed to the disaster-affected residents.
In addition, Chinese rescue forces, including the Chinese International Rescue and Search and the China Rescue and Search, have jointly carried out medical outreach activities in Mandalay, Myanmar.
As of 8 pm on Friday, the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has left 3,354 dead and 4,508 injured, and 220 missing, according to CCTV News.
Starting from Friday, the post-earthquake rescue efforts in Myanmar have entered the stages of epidemic prevention and control, as well as recovery and reconstruction.
UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to assess and mobilize aid to support people affected by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar.
More than 25 search-and-rescue teams are working in the country, medical teams and supplies have been deployed, and water and shelter kits have been distributed in the regions affected, a UN spokesman said at a daily briefing on Friday.
On Thursday, more than 30 tons of medical supplies arrived in Myanmar, bringing the total to 100 tons since the earthquakes struck last week, he said.
In Mandalay, the epicenter of the earthquake and Myanmar's second-largest city, humanitarian workers on Tuesday provided food and cash assistance to more than 10,000 people. On Monday, over 20,000 people received cash in Mandalay and other areas.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCHR) has deployed emergency relief including plastic sheets and kitchen sets for 25,000 survivors in Mandalay, Sagaing and Bago, as well as the capital Nay Pyi Taw and Shan State, according to the agency.
The health response also continues, with three tons of medical supplies delivered to hospitals in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Nearly 30 field medical stations have been established in the most affected areas.
Water trucking operations have begun in Nay Pyi Taw, serving approximately 45,000 people, UN humanitarians said. More than 20 latrines have been constructed in displacement sites in Mandalay.
Assessments from multiple UN agencies have showed widespread destruction across central Myanmar to critical infrastructure, including health facilities, road networks and bridges, after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the country last week. UNHCHR estimated that in Mandalay, up to 80 percent of structures have collapsed.
Dozens of aftershocks continue, deepening people's fear and complicating humanitarian response efforts.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported that electricity and water supplies remain disrupted, worsening access to health services and heightening risks of waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks.
Increasing cases of acute watery diarrhoea were reported among people in displacement sites in Mandalay and Sagaing, along with dozens of cases of heat-related illness.
Humanitarians said that people affected need urgent healthcare and medical supplies, drinking water, food and other critical items. Tents and temporary shelter are also needed, as well as latrines and hygiene items.
The United Nations called for the international community to immediately step up funding to Myanmar, and ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach those most in need across the country.
"Our humanitarian colleagues are preparing a new appeal aligned with the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which calls for $1.1 billion as needs continue to outpace available supplies and response capacity," the UN spokesman said. "So far, less than 5 percent of this appeal has been received."
Zhang Guangrui, a 40-year-old volunteer with the Blue Sky Rescue Team from northern China, put on his sunglasses to hide his tears on the streets of Mandalay in Myanmar on Thursday afternoon.
An 84-year-old woman, whom Zhang's team had spent days trying to rescue, was confirmed dead earlier in the day, before she could be saved from a collapsed building.
I tried to talk with the woman's daughter on Wednesday. She cried, saying, "I have no energy to speak, and I just want to see my mother as soon as possible." I put away my recorder and hugged her.
On the following day, she courageously told the rescue team: "It's fine to let her rest here."
Zhang had led the team in digging through the ruins for three days and nights. With 17 years of rescue experience, Zhang, as a post-disaster rescue expert, tried multiple methods to rescue the elderly woman.
"This site is indeed the most complex and high-risk situation I've ever encountered," he said.
I have interviewed him five times in recent days. What he said most often was, "Let me check the site again".
More than 140 hours after the earthquake, despite the scorching heat of over 40 C, hundreds of Chinese rescuers continue their efforts with barely any sleep, as persistence brings hope.
Just as one survivor saved by Chinese rescuers said, it was the rescue team's presence that gave him the strong will to live.
When I was talking with Zhang one day on the street here, a voice came from behind, saying "Are you from China?"
It was a third-generation Chinese immigrant. With her hands pressed together in a gesture of gratitude, she spoke to me in a hoarse voice: "Thank you so much for coming all the way to help us."
As we were talking, dozens of disaster-affected people who had been resting nearby gathered around us. One by one, they asked me to convey their thanks to China.
"My dad works for a Chinese company, and he made me learn Chinese. During the earthquake, my sisters and I ran out without taking anything. We are now staying at a relative's house. Thank you to the Chinese volunteers for helping us get through this difficult time," a female resident said.
In addition to rescue efforts and providing supplies, post-disaster epidemic prevention work has also begun. The dense population, hot weather and scattered bodies yet to be cleared present a significant challenge to epidemic control efforts.
I also visited the headquarters of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team at a sports stadium where staff members' bags were piled up on the floor, and mosquito nets were arranged on the grass.
Not far away, a member of the Chinese Red Cross Society International Emergency Response Team slept the whole night next to a shipment of rescue supplies that had just arrived from China, as if guarding precious treasure.
I hope the perseverance of these Chinese rescue teams can bring about more miracles.
Chinese rescuers pulled a survivor out of the rubble of a collapsed hotel on Wednesday in the city of Mandalay, Myanmar, more than 120 hours after a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Southeast Asian nation on March 28.
The 52-year-old survivor, an employee of the hotel, was in stable condition and receiving treatment in a hospital, authorities said.
The rescue came at a time past the critical 72-hour post-disaster rescue window and as temperatures in the city soared above 40 C.
The death toll from the earthquake was 3,301 as of Friday, with the figure expected to rise as the search for survivors continues.
Yue Xin, team leader of China Search and Rescue Team Operation Group, who arrived in Myanmar on March 30, took part in the man's rescue.
"We used our equipment to accurately detect signs of life in the collapsed building and continuously heard responses, eventually confirming that the survivor was at the bottom of the collapsed hotel structure," Yue said.
The eight-story Golden Village Hotel partially collapsed during the earthquake, with its bottom three floors crumbling and the top five remaining relatively intact. After technical assessments indicated that the site was safe for rescue operations in the absence of aftershocks, rescue teams moved in.
"After six consecutive days of high temperatures, the chances of finding survivors were very low," Yue said, adding that the Chinese rescue teams have been persistent in their efforts.
China's disaster relief command center coordinated the response, deploying rescue personnel, technical experts and medical teams, Yue said.
Rescuers decided to enter from the ground level and drill downward, using an endoscope specifically designed for earthquake rescue to locate the man.
"This survivor must have had good earthquake survival knowledge," Yue said. "He sheltered between two beds, which provided protection from falling debris and prevented serious injury. The space had some ventilation after the collapse, and he had a pot of water nearby, which was crucial for his survival."
After establishing contact with the man using a translator, the team provided him with a saline solution to boost his energy before extracting him.
"I am extremely grateful to the Chinese rescue team. I could hear their search efforts, which gave me the faith to survive," the man said.
At 5:40 pm on Wednesday, rescuers lifted him onto a stretcher and transported him to a hospital.
The China International Search and Rescue Team, a rescue team from Hong Kong and the Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation also participated in the operation.
Other groups, including Blue Sky Rescue Team, have also been conducting search and rescue operations for more than 100 hours since arriving in Mandalay on March 30.
As of Thursday, Chinese teams had rescued nine trapped people in the quake's aftermath.
Resident Li Yanlin, whose house collapsed in the quake, and who is currently living by the banks of the ancient Mandalay Palace moat, expressed her gratitude to the rescue teams.
"Thank you, our Chinese friends. Whenever help is needed anywhere, you are the first to arrive," Li said.
"In recent days, we have seen Chinese volunteers in every street and alley, working day and night tirelessly in search and rescue efforts, and providing us with tents, food and water. Just now, they asked me if I needed anything, which made me feel very reassured," she said.
Mandalay's airport was destroyed in the quake, so rescue and relief teams have had to be bused in from Yangon, 12 hours away.
However, by Monday large quantities of Chinese rescue supplies, donations and medical teams had begun arriving, with various organizations coordinating aid distribution and post-disaster epidemic prevention efforts.
The Chinese embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 11 am on Friday, five Chinese citizens had been killed in the quake and 13 injured.
YANGON - Myanmar's recent earthquake has caused severe casualties, with 3,301 deaths, 4,792 people injured, and 221 reported missing, according to the official media Myanmar Radio and Television on Friday.
YANGON - The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 11:00 Beijing time (0300 GMT) on Friday, the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of five Chinese citizens and injuries to 13 others.
YANGON -- The death toll from a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,145, with 4,589 people injured and 221 missing, the Myanmar Radio and Television reported on Thursday.
The Myanmar Fire Services Department, in collaboration with international rescue teams, has been carrying out search and rescue operations, the report said.
So far, they have saved 653 people trapped under debris and recovered 626 bodies, it added.
As of Thursday morning, Myanmar has experienced 66 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2.8 to 7.5, according to the country's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
YANGON -- The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 16:00 Beijing time on Thursday, the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of four Chinese citizens and injuries to 13 others.
More than 120 hours after a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar, Chinese rescuers on Wednesday night pulled a 52-year-old man alive from the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Mandalay.
The rescue came after the critical 72-hour window had passed and as temperatures in the city soared above 40 degrees Celsius. The survivor was in stable condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital, authorities said.
"We used our equipment to accurately detect signs of life in the collapsed building and continuously received feedback, eventually confirming that the survivor was at the bottom of this collapsed hotel structure," said Yue Xin, team leader of Operation Group, China Search and Rescue Team.
Yue said the eight-story Golden Village Hotel partially collapsed during the 7.9-magnitude earthquake on March 28, with its bottom three floors crumbling while the top five remained relatively intact. After technical assessments deemed the site safe for rescue operations in the absence of aftershocks, teams moved in.
China's disaster relief command center coordinated the response, deploying rescue personnel, technical experts, and medical teams, Yue said.
Rescuers decided to enter from the ground level and drill downward, using an endoscope to locate the man.
"This survivor must have had good earthquake survival knowledge," Yue said. "He sheltered between two beds, which provided protection from falling debris and prevented serious injury. The space had some ventilation after the collapse, and he had a pot of water nearby, which were crucial for his survival."
After establishing contact with the man using a translator, the team provided him with saline solution before extracting him.
"After six consecutive days of high temperatures, the chances of finding survivors were very low. However, Chinese rescue personnel persisted in their search efforts," Yue said.
"I am extremely grateful to the Chinese rescue team. I could hear their search efforts, which gave me the faith to survive," the survivor said.
At 5:40 pm on Wednesday, rescuers lifted him onto a stretcher and transported him to a hospital.
The China International Search and Rescue Team, and a rescue team from Hong Kong, and the Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation also participated in the operation.
Other groups, including Blue Sky Rescue, have also been conducting continuous search-and-rescue operations for more than 100 hours since arriving in Mandalay on March 30.
As of Thursday, Chinese teams had rescued nine people trapped in the quake's aftermath.
"Thank you to our Chinese friends. Whenever help is needed anywhere in the world, you are the first to arrive," said Li Yanlin, a resident currently sleeping on a mat by the riverbank.
"In recent days, we have seen Chinese volunteers in every street and alley, working tirelessly day and night in search-and-rescue efforts, and providing us with tents, food, and water. Just now, they asked me if I needed anything, which made me feel very reassured," she said.
Mandalay's airport was paralyzed after the quake, requiring a 12-hour bus ride from Yangon for arriving relief teams. However, by Monday, large quantities of Chinese rescue supplies, donations, and medical teams had begun arriving, with various organizations coordinating aid distribution and post-disaster epidemic prevention efforts.
