More than 500 personnel across 30 teams assisting ongoing search and relief efforts after quake

China’s swift response to the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar and its continuous support for rescue and relief efforts, including deploying the most rescue teams and personnel, have been widely recognized by the Southeast Asian country’s government and people.

Li Ming, spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said on April 2 that nearly 30 Chinese rescue teams, comprising over 500 personnel, are assisting ongoing rescue and relief efforts in Myanmar.

“We deployed rescue teams within the critical 72-hour window. Following the principle of proximity, a rescue team from Yunnan province reached Myanmar within 18 hours of the earthquake,” Li said.

According to China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, Chinese teams — including the national rescue team, the China International Search and Rescue Team, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region rescue team — had rescued nine survivors as of April 2.

The ninth survivor, a man trapped under rubble in Mandalay for over 120 hours, was rescued at 5:40 pm local time that day. The ministry said he was in stable condition at the time of rescue.

On April 1, Mandalay Mayor U Kyaw Hsan expressed his gratitude to members of China’s civil rescue team Ramunion in person.

During the days-long cross-border rescue operation, the team searched 26 collapsed buildings, rescuing five survivors and recovering 12 bodies in 72 hours. Local residents spontaneously brought tea and fruit for the team as a gesture of appreciation.

According to Li, despite disruptions to transportation and communication networks, the first shipment of China’s emergency humanitarian aid — including 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets, and over 40,000 first-aid kits — was delivered to Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Daw, on April 1 for distribution among displaced residents.

He said the second shipment of relief supplies from China — including 800 tents, 2,000 blankets, 3,000 boxes of biscuits, and 2,000 boxes of bottled water — was scheduled to be shipped on April 3.

The Red Cross Society of China has also provided 1.5 million yuan ($206,000) in cash aid, while Yunnan has donated 6.1 million yuan in disaster relief supplies, Li added.

In Mandalay, many people whose homes were destroyed in the magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 are now living outdoors.

“We need temporary shelters such as tents,” said U Kyaw Kyaw, a resident currently sleeping on a mat on the riverbank. “I have seen the rescue teams from China working here. I want to thank them.”

Shen Tingchong, from the Red Cross Society of China, said that while one team is supporting rescue operations, another is preparing to construct temporary shelters for displaced people, including setting up toilets and water supply facilities.

Zhang Guangrui, leader of the Blue Sky Rescue Team from China, said his squad had been searching for two days for an 84-year-old woman trapped under a collapsed building in Mandalay. “We are sparing no efforts,” he said.

Ma Yuehua, the victim’s daughter, said the “Chinese rescue team has been helping us for two days. I am grateful for their tireless efforts”.

Li Ming, from the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said that China is willing to continue supporting the people in Myanmar according to their needs.

“We believe that with the joint efforts of China and the international community, the people of Myanmar will soon overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes,” he said.

According to Myanmar authorities, the death toll from the quake has now passed 3,000 and hundreds are still missing.

Contact the writers at lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn