Young man brought out alive from Myanmar's earthquake rubble by rescue forces

Rescue forces bring the young victim out from the rubble of Hotel Aye Chan Thar in Naypyitaw, Myanmar on Wednesday afternoon. — Photo qdnd.vn

HÀ NỘI — A young man has been rescued alive from under the rubble of Hotel Aye Chan Thar in Naypyitaw, thanks to a coordinated effort between Vietnamese, Turkish and Myanmar rescue teams.

Htet Maung Maung, aged around 26, worked as a chef at the hotel.

He was in stable condition, having received IV fluids from the rescue team while trapped under the debris. 

After being pulled from under the collapsed building at 2pm on Wednesday by the Vietnamese, Myanmar and Turkish forces, he was transported to a local hospital for further monitoring and treatment. 

A family member of the victim cries tears of joy as he was brought out to safety from the ruins of Hotel Aye Chan Thar in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.  — Photo qdnd.vn

A separate Vietnamese military rescue team is also continuing search and rescue operations at Ottara Thiri Hospital, about 20km away from Hotel Aye Chan Thar.

As of Wednesday morning, the team found two more bodies, raising the total number of victims in their search to seven.

Their families have been waiting for nearly a week to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones since the 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred on March 28.

A rescue team from Việt Nam’s People's Army searches for earthquake victims at Hotel Aye Chan Thar in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. — VNA/VNS Photo

The local weather is very unfavourable for search and rescue operations, with outside temperatures reaching 39-40 degrees Celsius. 

A representative of the Vietnamese military relief team said that, despite the challenging conditions, they are determined to bring all four remaining victims trapped in Oattara Thiri Hospital back to their families. 

The Vietnamese military medical team is also actively supporting the hospital. 

On Wednesday morning, the team established a disaster relief team to provide medical examinations, treatment and free medications to local people. 

Vietnamese rescuers discuss efforts with relief teams from Myanmar and Turkey. — VNA/VNS Photo

Warm support 

With most housing, electricity and water facilities destroyed in the earthquake, many locals in Naypyitaw have had to move to temporary shelters. 

Since the disaster, Taw Win Yadanar School’s yard in Zabuthiri Township has been converted into a temporary area for about 200 people, but facilities in the area remain limited. 

On Wednesday morning, a rescue team from the Vietnamese public security ministry set up two tents for displaced residents. 

Locals and Vietnamese rescue officers next to the two shelter tents. — VNA/VNS Photo

Colonel Nguyễn Minh Khương, head of the rescue team, expressed hope that this support would provide care and compassion to locals and help alleviate some of their suffering.

The Vietnamese medical team has also been conducting medical examinations and distributing medicines to people injured in the earthquake, which were met with gratitude and appreciation from the local people.

A medical worker from the Vietnamese public security ministry's relief team provides health check-ups for locals in Zabuthiri Township, Myanmar. — VNA/VNS Photos

Daw Maw Maw, a local resident, said: “We have just gone through the earthquake, but over the past days, we have felt the kind support from the relief team of the Vietnamese public security ministry. They brought us medicine and food.” — VNS