A devastating earthquake has wrought destruction across central Myanmar, toppling ancient sites, bringing down hospital buildings and collapsing homes.
The 7.7 magnitude quake on Friday was followed by a number of aftershocks along the Sagaing fault. It also caused damage in neighbouring Thailand, where a skyscraper under construction collapsed in Bangkok.
But Myanmar bore the brunt of the damage. Disruption to power, phone and internet connections means the true scale of the disaster is yet to emerge. Some places have been cut off by landslides, further hampering efforts to assess the damage. Rescue efforts have also been complicated by the country’s civil war.
As of Monday, the ruling junta said at least 2,000 people had been confirmed dead. This guide assesses what we know about the damage in four cities.
Mandalay
Countless buildings have collapsed in Myanmar’s second-largest city, including the U Hla Thein monastery, where 270 monks had been taking a religious exam, mosques where Friday prayers had been under way, the city’s university and a hotel. Many bodies remain under the rubble, according to local rescuers. These videos show damaged buildings in the city:
This pair of satellite images shows damage to a township in the city:
Before and after satellite images of Maha Aungmye township
A doctor at the city’s general hospital said the situation was unprecedented. “I’ve experienced a lot of incidents, but never been busy like this before,” he said.
People look on as search and rescue operations continue in Mandalay in the aftermath the earthquake. Photograph: Reuters
Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw, the heavily fortified capital, was purpose-built by generals as the military’s seat of power. Here, too, many buildings have been damaged, including government ministries. The airport’s control tower collapsed and all commercial flights have been cancelled. This video shows some of the damaged buildings:
A rescuer in Naypyidaw said rescue workers had been digging with their bare hands to free those trapped under the debris. “I feel very heavy … There are still a lot of bodies to move. Not just move, but also to dig up,” they said.
A security official looks at a damaged building in Naypyidaw. Photograph: Nyein Chan Naing/EPA
Sagaing
In Sagaing, buildings have been destroyed and damaged almost everywhere. The provincial fire department was destroyed, damaging the rescue equipment and vehicles inside. The hospital was also damaged, forcing patients outside into the searing heat. Other damaged sites included a monastery, mosques, a Buddhist summer school, a private school and a nunnery school, a rescue worker said.
The Ma Shi Khana pagoda, founded during the reign of King Thado Minbya, who ruled from 1364 to 1367, collapsed:
Ma Shi Khama pagoda befor and after
Taungoo
In Taungoo, in the Bago region, there are also scenes of devastation. The Kandaw mosque collapsed during Friday prayers, according to local media, while the Weiluwun monastery, which served as a shelter for displaced people, also collapsed.
