Survivor Pulled from Myanmar Hotel Rubble Five Days After Devastating Earthquake

 Naypyidaw: A 26-year-old man was rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, early Wednesday, five days after the country’s worst earthquake in a century devastated entire neighborhoods, temples, bridges, and highways.

The survivor was found after midnight by a joint Myanmar-Turkey rescue team, Myanmar’s fire service and ruling junta confirmed.

The disaster has already claimed more than 2,700 lives, with the death toll expected to surpass 3,000 by the end of Wednesday, according to Myanmar’s military ruler, Min Aung Hlaing. Humanitarian agencies have urged nations to accelerate aid delivery, warning that the upcoming monsoon season could worsen the crisis.

Desperation Mounts in Hardest-Hit Areas

In the worst-affected regions near the epicenter—the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing—survivors have been left to sleep on the streets, with the stench of decaying bodies trapped under rubble filling the air. Essential supplies, including water, food, and medicine, are in critically short supply.

“The devastating impact of Friday’s earthquake is becoming clearer by the hour—this is a crisis on top of a crisis for Myanmar, where the humanitarian situation is already dire,” said Arif Noor, Myanmar country director for the humanitarian agency Care.

“Rescue teams are still recovering those trapped under the rubble, and hospitals are overwhelmed. The physical and mental scars of this catastrophe will last for decades.”

Myanmar Faces Crisis Amid Civil War

Friday’s 7.6-magnitude earthquake is the latest in a series of catastrophes for Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since the 2021 military coup. The ongoing conflict has shattered the nation’s economy and reversed years of democratic progress.

The United Nations has called for swift relief efforts before the monsoon season sets in. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric warned, “We must act swiftly to provide relief before the upcoming monsoon season, which, of course, will even worsen this horrendous crisis.”

More than 4,500 people have been injured, and at least 441 remain missing, according to Min Aung Hlaing. “Among the missing, most are assumed to be dead. There is a narrow chance for them to remain alive,” he stated.

Unofficial estimates from humanitarian organizations suggest the actual death toll could exceed 10,000.

Conflict and Relief Efforts Collide

The situation has been further complicated by ongoing military operations. UN special envoy Julie Bishop urged all parties to halt hostilities, allow humanitarian access, and ensure the safety of aid workers.

“Continuing military operations in disaster-affected areas risks further loss of life,” she said in a statement.

However, reports from residents and Myanmar’s exiled National Unity Government (NUG) accuse the junta of continuing airstrikes even in the wake of the disaster, allegedly blocking aid to opposition-controlled areas.

“On Monday, five bombs were dropped around Nwe Khwe village. Although there were no casualties, people are already traumatized by the earthquake,” said Ye Lay, 21, a resident of Sagaing.

“Because of the earthquake damage, people are staying outside their homes. When bombs are dropped, they have to take shelter in trenches,” he added. “If an earthquake strikes, we can’t run away, so people are experiencing a profound sense of insecurity.”

Amnesty International confirmed receiving testimonies that airstrikes had taken place near quake-hit regions. “You cannot ask for aid with one hand and bomb with the other,” said Amnesty’s Myanmar researcher, Joe Freeman.

Rebel Groups Announce Ceasefire, Junta Remains Defiant

The Three Brotherhood Alliance, a coalition of ethnic armed groups fighting the junta, announced a one-month ceasefire on Tuesday to allow urgent humanitarian aid to reach survivors.

However, Myanmar’s military leadership remains wary. In its nightly news bulletin, state-controlled MRTV quoted Min Aung Hlaing as claiming that ethnic minority armies were preparing to exploit the disaster.

“The military is aware they are gathering, training, and preparing to attack,” he said at a fundraising event for earthquake victims. “We consider it an attack on us and will respond accordingly.”

National Mourning Declared

The junta has declared a week of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast until April 6 in memory of those lost. As Myanmar struggles to recover, the combination of natural disaster and political instability continues to deepen the country’s humanitarian crisis.