 "Myanmar earthquake: Satellite images show destruction in civil war-ravaged country")
Satellite images released in the aftermath of Myanmar’s deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake have revealed the full scale of destruction in a country already grappling with the devastating toll of civil war.
The images, captured by Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies, show some of the most striking damage to key infrastructure across central Myanmar. In Naypyidaw, the control tower at the city’s international airport lies in ruins.
In Mandalay, satellite comparisons show entire blocks of tightly packed homes turned to ash and rubble, with only the grid-like roadways offering a clue to what once stood there.
Further north, the Inwa Bridge over the Irrawaddy River, a vital artery near Mandalay, is visibly broken in multiple sections, its trusses now slumped into the muddy water below.
The earthquake, which struck near the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar, was followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. It has left more than 1,600 people dead in Myanmar, according to figures released by the country’s military junta, and at least 17 more in neighbouring Thailand.
With communications patchy and access to rural areas severely restricted, the true toll is feared to be significantly higher.
In Mandalay, a city of over 1.7 million people, residents have been sifting through the wreckage with their bare hands.
Rescue efforts have been complicated by the region’s ongoing conflict. Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war since a military coup in 2021 triggered mass protests and armed resistance. Many of the areas hardest hit by the quake are also contested by anti-junta forces, and aid workers have reported difficulties reaching affected communities.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe opposition National Unity Government– a parallel administration aligned with the country’s resistance forces– has announced a two-week ceasefire in earthquake-hit zones, allowing aid and rescue operations to continue. But there are reports that the military has not halted its operations in all areas, fuelling concern that humanitarian relief could be disrupted.
The junta’s request for international assistance — a rare move from a regime that has historically rejected foreign aid — points to the magnitude of the crisis. Shipments of medical supplies, food, and rescue equipment have begun arriving from countries including India, China, and Thailand, which has dispatched military personnel and search dogs to assist in rescue missions.
Still, the needs on the ground far outweigh current relief efforts. The United Nations has warned of severe shortages in medical equipment, clean water, and shelter. Aid groups say the country is ill-equipped to handle a disaster of this scale, particularly with more than 3.5 million people already displaced by the war even before the quake hit.
As aftershocks continue to shake buildings and rattle nerves, those still trapped beneath the rubble are running out of time.
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