A powerful earthquake killed at least 300 people in the town of Tada-U, while also devastating historic pagodas and religious sites in the ancient city of Ava, Mandalay Region, sources told Myanmar Now.
Three people died when a sightseeing tower collapsed in the city, a popular tourist hotspot in Tada-U Township, while many ancient religious buildings suffered extensive damage.
“Two women and a Tuk Tuk driver were killed when the tower collapsed,” a man from Oe Toke Tan Village told Myanmar Now. “Two bodies are still trapped under the debris.”
A river bank near the village collapsed; but there have been no civilian casualties reported regarding the incident.
Locals also told Myanmar Now on Thursday that bodies remain trapped under the rubble in Tada-U Town, five days after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28.
“All buildings and houses in Tada-U Town have been destroyed by the earthquake,” a man from Tada-U said. “The town is filled with the stench of death as bodies remain trapped beneath the rubble.”
The devastating earthquake killed at least 300 people in Tada-U, a town approximately eight miles southwest of Mandalay. The death toll is expected to rise.
“It’s a challenging task to clear the rubbles with available manpower,” the same man said. “Those who are involved are not well-trained. Things will move much faster if international aid arrives in our town.”
Survivors expressed concern over the possibility of theft as they spent multiple nights outside their collapsed homes.
The earthquake in Tada-U has destroyed roads and bridges, cutting off power and communication and leaving many without food. Since March 31, volunteer groups have distributed food, drinking water, and mosquito nets to those affected.
“We have to buy food and basic necessities in Mandalay and Sagaing,” the source from Oe Toke Tan Village added. “But now, all the shops are closed in these cities due to the earthquake. So, we are now relying on donations.”
The death toll for the earthquake has reached nearly 4,000 people nationwide, with the number still expected to rise.
With the tourism industry already devastated by COVID-19 and the 2021 military coup, most residents near the ancient city of Ava have turned to day labor. And with extensive damage to many famous pagodas and religious buildings, the ancient city may never be the same.
“There’s nothing left in Sagaing and Ava. Now, everything is gone,” another source from Ava told Myanmar Now. “Only piles of bricks remain.”
