Myanmar Earthquake: Before-And-After Satellite Images Show Widespread Destruction
Rescuers search for survivors after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, causing over 1,700 deaths. The quake damaged buildings and bridges, including the Mahamuni Pagoda and Inwa Bridge.
Rescuers are still searching for survivors more than three days after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar. The quake toppled buildings as far away as Bangkok and sent tremors through nearby Chinese provinces.
The first 72 hours after a quake are considered the “golden" window for rescuing victims buried under rubble, as survival chances diminish rapidly without a water source after this period.
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Authorities confirm at least 1,700 deaths in Myanmar, with the largest earthquake in over a century to strike the war-torn country. Experts fear the true death toll could take weeks to emerge.
Meanwhile, satellite images released by Maxar Technologies show that the earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings and a bridge in Myanmar.
Mahamuni Pagoda In Mandalay
A satellite image showed significant damage to the Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the country’s most sacred Buddhist sites. The top image shows the structures in ruins after collapsing due to the March 27 earthquake, while the bottom image, taken on March 23, depicts the area intact.
Inwa Bridge In Mandalay
Satellite images highlight the collapse of the Inwa Bridge over the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay, Myanmar. The top image, taken after the March 27 earthquake, shows the damaged structure, while the bottom image, captured on March 23, displays the bridge intact.
Myanmar Buildings
Several buildings in the vicinity of the earthquake epicentre collapsed in Mandalay.
Myanmar Earthquake
The epicenter was in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region, near Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million people and multiple historic sites. Friday’s quake is the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in years, further exacerbating the issues caused by the ongoing civil war, which has damaged communication networks, health infrastructure, and left millions without adequate food and shelter.
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The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people based on early modeling. In Bangkok, hundreds of miles from the epicenter, 18 people were killed, including 11 who died in a building collapse. Search and rescue operations continue for around 80 missing people.
Thousands of people are spending nights on the streets or in open spaces due to the destruction of homes and fear of further quakes. A hospital in Naypyidaw partially collapsed, trapping patients.
Nearly 1,700 houses, 670 monasteries, 60 schools, and three bridges were reported damaged, with concerns for the structural integrity of large dams.
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