A six-year-old girl was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building on Monday, more than 72 hours after a powerful earthquake devastated central Myanmar.
The child, found weak but conscious, had survived without food or water, raising a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy that has claimed at least 1,700 lives in Myanmar and Thailand.
Rescue teams described the moment as miraculous, saying the girl had been shielded by the debris of her collapsed home. However, the fate of her father, who was last seen protecting her, remains unknown.
Emergency responders are racing against time as the death toll continues to climb.
The 7.7-magnitude quake, followed by multiple aftershocks, has left thousands homeless, with the extreme heat—expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit)—compounding the difficulties of rescue and recovery operations.
International relief organizations, including the Red Cross, have launched emergency appeals to provide aid, but the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar is making distribution challenging.
Reports indicate that clashes between the military and resistance groups have continued in some areas, further straining resources.
Many survivors remain without shelter, food, or clean water. Makeshift camps have been set up across the city, but supplies are running low.
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Medical workers are struggling to treat the injured as hospitals are overwhelmed with patients.
“The conditions are getting worse by the hour,” said a local aid worker. “We need immediate support to prevent further casualties.”
Despite the destruction, religious communities are holding firm to their faith.
On Monday morning, Muslim worshipers gathered near a destroyed mosque for Eid al-Fitr prayers, while Buddhist monks have opened temple courtyards as temporary shelters.
“We have lost our homes, but we will not lose our faith,” said a worshiper at the gathering.