Abandoned in the Rubble: When a 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar, it wasn’t just the tremors that claimed lives—it was the military junta’s inaction. As survivors cried for help, the regime staged photo ops instead of real rescue efforts, leaving hundreds trapped under collapsed buildings in Naypyitaw.
BY PC Bureau
Myanmar’s administrative capital, Naypyitaw, was among the worst-affected regions when a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country last Friday. The quake flattened buildings, killed scores, and left many trapped beneath concrete and twisted steel — yet the regime’s rescue response has been alarmingly inadequate, according to survivors and civil servants on the ground.
Numerous residential blocks in Naypyitaw, particularly the Khayay Housing Complex and staff quarters in Zabuthiri Township, collapsed during the tremors, trapping dozens of government employees and their families beneath the debris. The structural damage was catastrophic: in many buildings, entire ground floors were obliterated, leaving the upper stories sagging precariously or slanted sideways like broken shelves.
As per local media reports , despite the severity, no meaningful rescue operations were launched by the military junta. “Lots of armed soldiers came, but only for a photo op,” said a government employee who witnessed the scene. “They did nothing practical. Even in Acre-2000, where many buildings collapsed, there was just one rescue team. The junta officials walked around, looked concerned, maybe passed out a few bottles of water — but no real help came.”
Eyewitnesses describe a grim and heartbreaking scene where trapped victims cried out for help for days, only to die slowly as no aid arrived. “People were alive for two, even three days under the rubble. We could hear them. But we couldn’t save them. Nobody could,” said another civil servant, holding back tears. “They didn’t die because of the earthquake alone — they died because the junta didn’t care.”
The death toll has already crossed 100 here, but the actual figure is feared to be far higher, as many bodies remain buried beneath collapsed structures. Rescue efforts have been heavily focused on Zeyathiri Township, home to the military’s sprawling War Office Headquarters and several battalions. This selective prioritization has sparked anger among citizens, as civilian neighborhoods were ignored.
People in Mandalay and other quake-hit areas are still sleeping on the streets with no help from the junta. Int’l aid is arriving, but the military blocks and seizes it. Stakeholders must support victims directly.
JUNTA ATTACKS POST QUAKE#DisasterInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/ztweb3SOxB— 💜海Hai💙 (@ZZ0JH0NG0SamYU) April 3, 2025
Even senior military installations did not escape the quake’s fury. According to military defectors, significant damage has been reported at Infantry Battalion 85, Light Infantry Battalion 302, Interrogation Camp No. 3, and even Naypyitaw International Airport. However, a media blackout has been imposed by the regime to suppress information about the destruction of military infrastructure and the heavy loss of life among soldiers and civil servants alike.
Also Read: Parliament Clears Waqf Bill; Singhvi says SC May Strike it Down
The junta’s top general, Min Aung Hlaing, visited affected zones hours after the quake — not with a relief convoy, but with his personal photographer, a former army officer known for underwater photography. His presence was widely perceived as a performative gesture rather than an attempt at leadership in crisis.
Meanwhile, Pyinmana Township, just outside Naypyitaw, has been left in even worse condition. The region, with its older brick buildings and bustling marketplaces, saw dozens of structures crumble. Residents report an overpowering stench of decomposition from the town’s central market area. “No one’s come. The bodies are still there,” a local man said. “We’ve been abandoned.”
In stark contrast to the junta’s inaction, foreign rescue teams from Russia, China, and Singapore have been spotted carrying out operations — but only in areas tied to military units, further underscoring the regime’s skewed priorities.
As the dust settles and despair deepens in Myanmar’s capital, one thing is clear: for many in Naypyitaw and beyond, the real disaster is not just the earthquake — it’s the complete failure of the state to protect its people.
