KUNMING -- A 37-member rescue and medical team from Southwest China's Yunnan province returned from Myanmar on Sunday afternoon, after completing their earthquake relief work.

A 7.9-magnitude quake struck Myanmar on March 28. At around 6:30 am Beijing time on March 29, the team from Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, took off from Kunming -- Yunnan's capital city -- to the quake-stricken areas in Myanmar boarding a flight, carrying with them life detectors, seismic warning systems, portable satellite telephones and drones.

As the first Chinese rescue team to arrive in Myanmar, they immediately joined forces with local firefighters and rescuers to carry out rescue and medical operations in the severely-affected Naypyidaw, which lasted for over 150 hours.

At 5 am March 30 local time, the team, joined by local forces, rescued an elderly person who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours at a local hospital.

A China Media Group report said on Wednesday that more than 500 Chinese rescue workers were in Myanmar for rescue and relief missions, all together. As of Thursday, Chinese rescue teams had successfully saved nine survivors from the quake-affected areas.

YANGON - The death toll from Myanmar's 7.9-magnitude earthquake rose to 3,471 as of Saturday, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the earthquake has also injured 4,671 people and left 214 missing as of Saturday.

It added that local and international rescue organizations had rescued 653 people trapped in buildings after the earthquake, and 682 bodies had been retrieved from the rubble.

At noon on Saturday, the third batch of emergency humanitarian earthquake relief supplies provided by the Chinese government arrived in Yangon, Myanmar, China Central Television reported.

This batch includes 1,048 water purification devices, 10,000 mosquito nets, 15,000 first aid kits, and 400 tents.

The first two batches of China's humanitarian aid arrived in Myanmar on Monday and Thursday, respectively, and have already been distributed to the disaster-affected residents.

In addition, Chinese rescue forces, including the Chinese International Rescue and Search and the China Rescue and Search, have jointly carried out medical outreach activities in Mandalay, Myanmar.

As of 8 pm on Friday, the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has left 3,354 dead and 4,508 injured, and 220 missing, according to CCTV News.

Starting from Friday, the post-earthquake rescue efforts in Myanmar have entered the stages of epidemic prevention and control, as well as recovery and reconstruction.

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to assess and mobilize aid to support people affected by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar.

More than 25 search-and-rescue teams are working in the country, medical teams and supplies have been deployed, and water and shelter kits have been distributed in the regions affected, a UN spokesman said at a daily briefing on Friday.

On Thursday, more than 30 tons of medical supplies arrived in Myanmar, bringing the total to 100 tons since the earthquakes struck last week, he said.

In Mandalay, the epicenter of the earthquake and Myanmar's second-largest city, humanitarian workers on Tuesday provided food and cash assistance to more than 10,000 people. On Monday, over 20,000 people received cash in Mandalay and other areas.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCHR) has deployed emergency relief including plastic sheets and kitchen sets for 25,000 survivors in Mandalay, Sagaing and Bago, as well as the capital Nay Pyi Taw and Shan State, according to the agency.

The health response also continues, with three tons of medical supplies delivered to hospitals in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Nearly 30 field medical stations have been established in the most affected areas.

Water trucking operations have begun in Nay Pyi Taw, serving approximately 45,000 people, UN humanitarians said. More than 20 latrines have been constructed in displacement sites in Mandalay.

Assessments from multiple UN agencies have showed widespread destruction across central Myanmar to critical infrastructure, including health facilities, road networks and bridges, after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the country last week. UNHCHR estimated that in Mandalay, up to 80 percent of structures have collapsed.

Dozens of aftershocks continue, deepening people's fear and complicating humanitarian response efforts.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported that electricity and water supplies remain disrupted, worsening access to health services and heightening risks of waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks.

Increasing cases of acute watery diarrhoea were reported among people in displacement sites in Mandalay and Sagaing, along with dozens of cases of heat-related illness.

Humanitarians said that people affected need urgent healthcare and medical supplies, drinking water, food and other critical items. Tents and temporary shelter are also needed, as well as latrines and hygiene items.

The United Nations called for the international community to immediately step up funding to Myanmar, and ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach those most in need across the country.

"Our humanitarian colleagues are preparing a new appeal aligned with the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which calls for $1.1 billion as needs continue to outpace available supplies and response capacity," the UN spokesman said. "So far, less than 5 percent of this appeal has been received."

Zhang Guangrui, a 40-year-old volunteer with the Blue Sky Rescue Team from northern China, put on his sunglasses to hide his tears on the streets of Mandalay in Myanmar on Thursday afternoon.

An 84-year-old woman, whom Zhang's team had spent days trying to rescue, was confirmed dead earlier in the day, before she could be saved from a collapsed building.

I tried to talk with the woman's daughter on Wednesday. She cried, saying, "I have no energy to speak, and I just want to see my mother as soon as possible." I put away my recorder and hugged her.

On the following day, she courageously told the rescue team: "It's fine to let her rest here."

Zhang had led the team in digging through the ruins for three days and nights. With 17 years of rescue experience, Zhang, as a post-disaster rescue expert, tried multiple methods to rescue the elderly woman.

"This site is indeed the most complex and high-risk situation I've ever encountered," he said.

I have interviewed him five times in recent days. What he said most often was, "Let me check the site again".

More than 140 hours after the earthquake, despite the scorching heat of over 40 C, hundreds of Chinese rescuers continue their efforts with barely any sleep, as persistence brings hope.

Just as one survivor saved by Chinese rescuers said, it was the rescue team's presence that gave him the strong will to live.

When I was talking with Zhang one day on the street here, a voice came from behind, saying "Are you from China?"

It was a third-generation Chinese immigrant. With her hands pressed together in a gesture of gratitude, she spoke to me in a hoarse voice: "Thank you so much for coming all the way to help us."

As we were talking, dozens of disaster-affected people who had been resting nearby gathered around us. One by one, they asked me to convey their thanks to China.

"My dad works for a Chinese company, and he made me learn Chinese. During the earthquake, my sisters and I ran out without taking anything. We are now staying at a relative's house. Thank you to the Chinese volunteers for helping us get through this difficult time," a female resident said.

In addition to rescue efforts and providing supplies, post-disaster epidemic prevention work has also begun. The dense population, hot weather and scattered bodies yet to be cleared present a significant challenge to epidemic control efforts.

I also visited the headquarters of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team at a sports stadium where staff members' bags were piled up on the floor, and mosquito nets were arranged on the grass.

Not far away, a member of the Chinese Red Cross Society International Emergency Response Team slept the whole night next to a shipment of rescue supplies that had just arrived from China, as if guarding precious treasure.

I hope the perseverance of these Chinese rescue teams can bring about more miracles.

Chinese rescuers pulled a survivor out of the rubble of a collapsed hotel on Wednesday in the city of Mandalay, Myanmar, more than 120 hours after a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Southeast Asian nation on March 28.

The 52-year-old survivor, an employee of the hotel, was in stable condition and receiving treatment in a hospital, authorities said.

The rescue came at a time past the critical 72-hour post-disaster rescue window and as temperatures in the city soared above 40 C.

The death toll from the earthquake was 3,301 as of Friday, with the figure expected to rise as the search for survivors continues.

Yue Xin, team leader of China Search and Rescue Team Operation Group, who arrived in Myanmar on March 30, took part in the man's rescue.

"We used our equipment to accurately detect signs of life in the collapsed building and continuously heard responses, eventually confirming that the survivor was at the bottom of the collapsed hotel structure," Yue said.

The eight-story Golden Village Hotel partially collapsed during the earthquake, with its bottom three floors crumbling and the top five remaining relatively intact. After technical assessments indicated that the site was safe for rescue operations in the absence of aftershocks, rescue teams moved in.

"After six consecutive days of high temperatures, the chances of finding survivors were very low," Yue said, adding that the Chinese rescue teams have been persistent in their efforts.

China's disaster relief command center coordinated the response, deploying rescue personnel, technical experts and medical teams, Yue said.

Rescuers decided to enter from the ground level and drill downward, using an endoscope specifically designed for earthquake rescue to locate the man.

"This survivor must have had good earthquake survival knowledge," Yue said. "He sheltered between two beds, which provided protection from falling debris and prevented serious injury. The space had some ventilation after the collapse, and he had a pot of water nearby, which was crucial for his survival."

After establishing contact with the man using a translator, the team provided him with a saline solution to boost his energy before extracting him.

"I am extremely grateful to the Chinese rescue team. I could hear their search efforts, which gave me the faith to survive," the man said.

At 5:40 pm on Wednesday, rescuers lifted him onto a stretcher and transported him to a hospital.

The China International Search and Rescue Team, a rescue team from Hong Kong and the Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation also participated in the operation.

Other groups, including Blue Sky Rescue Team, have also been conducting search and rescue operations for more than 100 hours since arriving in Mandalay on March 30.

As of Thursday, Chinese teams had rescued nine trapped people in the quake's aftermath.

Resident Li Yanlin, whose house collapsed in the quake, and who is currently living by the banks of the ancient Mandalay Palace moat, expressed her gratitude to the rescue teams.

"Thank you, our Chinese friends. Whenever help is needed anywhere, you are the first to arrive," Li said.

"In recent days, we have seen Chinese volunteers in every street and alley, working day and night tirelessly in search and rescue efforts, and providing us with tents, food and water. Just now, they asked me if I needed anything, which made me feel very reassured," she said.

Mandalay's airport was destroyed in the quake, so rescue and relief teams have had to be bused in from Yangon, 12 hours away.

However, by Monday large quantities of Chinese rescue supplies, donations and medical teams had begun arriving, with various organizations coordinating aid distribution and post-disaster epidemic prevention efforts.

The Chinese embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 11 am on Friday, five Chinese citizens had been killed in the quake and 13 injured.

YANGON - Myanmar's recent earthquake has caused severe casualties, with 3,301 deaths, 4,792 people injured, and 221 reported missing, according to the official media Myanmar Radio and Television on Friday.

YANGON - The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 11:00 Beijing time (0300 GMT) on Friday, the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of five Chinese citizens and injuries to 13 others.

YANGON -- The death toll from a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,145, with 4,589 people injured and 221 missing, the Myanmar Radio and Television reported on Thursday.

The Myanmar Fire Services Department, in collaboration with international rescue teams, has been carrying out search and rescue operations, the report said.

So far, they have saved 653 people trapped under debris and recovered 626 bodies, it added.

As of Thursday morning, Myanmar has experienced 66 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2.8 to 7.5, according to the country's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

YANGON -- The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed that as of 16:00 Beijing time on Thursday, the powerful earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of four Chinese citizens and injuries to 13 others.

More than 120 hours after a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar, Chinese rescuers on Wednesday night pulled a 52-year-old man alive from the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Mandalay.

The rescue came after the critical 72-hour window had passed and as temperatures in the city soared above 40 degrees Celsius. The survivor was in stable condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital, authorities said.

"We used our equipment to accurately detect signs of life in the collapsed building and continuously received feedback, eventually confirming that the survivor was at the bottom of this collapsed hotel structure," said Yue Xin, team leader of Operation Group, China Search and Rescue Team.

Yue said the eight-story Golden Village Hotel partially collapsed during the 7.9-magnitude earthquake on March 28, with its bottom three floors crumbling while the top five remained relatively intact. After technical assessments deemed the site safe for rescue operations in the absence of aftershocks, teams moved in.

China's disaster relief command center coordinated the response, deploying rescue personnel, technical experts, and medical teams, Yue said.

Rescuers decided to enter from the ground level and drill downward, using an endoscope to locate the man.

"This survivor must have had good earthquake survival knowledge," Yue said. "He sheltered between two beds, which provided protection from falling debris and prevented serious injury. The space had some ventilation after the collapse, and he had a pot of water nearby, which were crucial for his survival."

After establishing contact with the man using a translator, the team provided him with saline solution before extracting him.

"After six consecutive days of high temperatures, the chances of finding survivors were very low. However, Chinese rescue personnel persisted in their search efforts," Yue said.

"I am extremely grateful to the Chinese rescue team. I could hear their search efforts, which gave me the faith to survive," the survivor said.

At 5:40 pm on Wednesday, rescuers lifted him onto a stretcher and transported him to a hospital.

The China International Search and Rescue Team, and a rescue team from Hong Kong, and the Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation also participated in the operation.

Other groups, including Blue Sky Rescue, have also been conducting continuous search-and-rescue operations for more than 100 hours since arriving in Mandalay on March 30.

As of Thursday, Chinese teams had rescued nine people trapped in the quake's aftermath.

"Thank you to our Chinese friends. Whenever help is needed anywhere in the world, you are the first to arrive," said Li Yanlin, a resident currently sleeping on a mat by the riverbank.

"In recent days, we have seen Chinese volunteers in every street and alley, working tirelessly day and night in search-and-rescue efforts, and providing us with tents, food, and water. Just now, they asked me if I needed anything, which made me feel very reassured," she said.

Mandalay's airport was paralyzed after the quake, requiring a 12-hour bus ride from Yangon for arriving relief teams. However, by Monday, large quantities of Chinese rescue supplies, donations, and medical teams had begun arriving, with various organizations coordinating aid distribution and post-disaster epidemic prevention efforts.

YANGON -- The death toll from a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,085, with 4,715 people injured and 341 reported missing, according to the Information Team of the State Administration Council on Thursday.

Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.

Aid groups in the worst-hit areas of Myanmar said there was an urgent need for shelter, food and water after an earthquake that killed more than 2,800 people as of Tuesday.

The death toll is expected to rise to more than 3,000, Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised address on Tuesday. He said 4,521 people were injured, and 441 were missing.

The 7.7 magnitude quake, which hit around lunchtime on Friday, was the strongest to hit the Southeast Asian country in more than a century, toppling ancient pagodas and modern buildings alike.

"In the hardest-hit areas … communities struggle to meet their basic needs, such as access to clean water and sanitation, while emergency teams work tirelessly to locate survivors and provide lifesaving aid," the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

Drinking water, hygiene, food, shelter and medicine are the most critical needs following extensive damage to buildings, roads and bridges, said Marcoluigi Corsi, acting humanitarian and resident coordinator of the UN following a two-day visit.

"Having lived through the terror of the earthquake, people now fear aftershocks and are sleeping outside on roads or in open fields," a worker from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Mandalay said in a report.

"We remain, of course, deeply committed to reaching people in Myanmar who need aid," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. "And we must act swiftly to provide relief before the upcoming monsoon season, which, of course, will even worsen this horrendous crisis."

Huge impact

Scientists emphasized the seismic event's significant force and the factors contributing to its impact.

US geologist Jess Phoenix described the earthquake's energy release as equivalent to 334 atomic bombs, warning that aftershocks will continue to pose a significant threat for months.

She highlighted the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates as a continuing source of seismic activity.

The Science Media Centre in the United Kingdom has compiled expert commentary, revealing a consensus on the earthquake's destructive potential.

Ian Watkinson, scholar from Royal Holloway, University of London, echoed these concerns, noting the earthquake's likely propagation along the Sagaing Fault, potentially up to 200 kilometers.

He highlighted the vulnerability of Mandalay and other regional cities, which have experienced rapid high-rise concrete construction, often on the floodplains of the Irrawaddy River.

Giving aid

Rescue workers, sniffer dogs, paramedics and millions of dollars in aid have begun arriving in Myanmar after a massive earthquake ravaged much of the country.

China has announced $14 million in assistance for Myanmar, including 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets and 40,000 first aid kits.

Chinese teams that arrived 18 hours after the quake and more than 400 Chinese personnel are now on the ground in the region.

China also has multiple teams in Thailand, according to Xinhua News Agency.

According to the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the initial supplies included tents, blankets and first aid kits.

The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations".

It said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID, which is undergoing massive cuts under the US administration, is being sent to Myanmar.

Two Russian aircraft carrying 60 rescue workers, four dogs, ambulances and rescue vehicles arrived in Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday, Myanmar's state broadcaster MRTV reported.

The Japanese government has dispatched a five-person assessment party that includes medical professionals to lay the groundwork for a larger emergency rescue team.

India sent a search and rescue team, medical professionals and a military transport aircraft filled with blankets, hygiene kits, food packets and other essential items on Saturday.

Vietnam has sent a team of more than 100 rescuers, medical staff and firefighters along with aid and sniffer dogs.

Thailand, which was also hit by the quake, has sent 55 air force personnel, including medics and search and rescue specialists, as well as medical supplies to Myanmar.

Indonesia's military said in a statement on Monday that it was sending emergency teams, including search and rescue workers, to Myanmar, as well as tents, food and logistical supplies.

Singapore has sent an 80-member team to assist with disaster rescue efforts. The government contributed about $112,000 as seed money to support the fundraising efforts of the Singapore Red Cross.

Agencies via Xinhua

A second batch of disaster-relief supplies from the Chinese government arrived in Yangon on Thursday after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28.

The shipment includes 800 tents, 2,000 blankets, 3,000 boxes of biscuits, 2,000 boxes of mineral water, and other urgently needed supplies. The aid was flown from Beijing Capital International Airport to Yangon on a chartered cargo plane on Thursday morning.

The first batch of Chinese disaster-relief supplies arrived in Myanmar on Monday.

Li Ming, spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said on Wednesday that China is ready to continue providing aid and support to the disaster-stricken people of Myanmar.

"With the joint efforts of China and the international community, the people of Myanmar will secure an early victory over the disaster and the reconstruction of their homeland," Li said.

YANGON — The second batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrived at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar on Thursday.

The devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake has claimed 3,085 lives, left 4,715 injured, and 341 people were reported missing, according to the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council on Thursday.

The second batch of aid supplies includes 800 tents, 2,000 blankets, 3,000 boxes of biscuits, 2,000 boxes of mineral water and other urgently needed supplies. These were transported to Yangon from China by a chartered flight.

The first batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government for earthquake disaster relief arrived in Myanmar on March 31.

Li Ming, spokesman for China International Development Cooperation Agency, said China is willing to continue providing assistance to the people in the disaster-stricken areas based on Myanmar's needs — supporting their efforts to overcome the disaster as soon as possible.

He expressed confidence that with the joint efforts of China and the international community, the people of Myanmar will surely be able to tide over the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.

Chinese rescuers were continuing search and rescue operations in Mandalay, and have so far rescued 9 survivors from the rubble.

Due to the persistently high temperatures in the disaster-hit area, with daytime temperatures exceeding 40 C, and the increasing presence of mosquitoes at the operation sites, the China international search and rescue team has taken the lead in carrying out epidemic prevention and disinfection work at team camps and rescue sites.

Temporary ceasefire

On Wednesday, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services of Myanmar said a temporary ceasefire will be in effect from April 2 to April 22, the office said in a statement.

The country is making every effort to continue rescue and reconstruction work, it said.

The statement said that during the temporary ceasefire, ethnic armed organizations and other armed groups must not obstruct or attack civilian transportation routes, harm lives or public property, assault security force camps engaged in safety and law enforcement duties, attack military bases, mobilize or reorganize forces that undermine peace, or carry out any territorial expansion. If such actions are taken, the defense forces will take necessary measures to protect the people.

As of Thursday morning, Myanmar has experienced 66 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2.8 to 7.5, according to the country's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said continuing aftershocks are complicating humanitarian response efforts. In Mandalay City, the quake's epicenter, many people are completely cut off from electricity and running water.

"People affected continue to need urgent healthcare and medical supplies, safe drinking water, food and other critical items," Dujarric said. "Tents and temporary shelter are needed, as well as latrines and other hygiene items, to prevent disease outbreaks."

BEIJING -- The Chinese government dispatched the second batch of emergency humanitarian earthquake relief supplies to Myanmar from Beijing Capital International Airport on Thursday morning, according to the China International Development Cooperation Agency.

The second batch of aid supplies includes 800 tents, 2,000 blankets, 3,000 boxes of biscuits, 2,000 boxes of mineral water and other urgently needed supplies. The supplies are being transported to Yangon by a chartered flight from China. The first batch of emergency humanitarian aid for earthquake disaster relief arrived in Myanmar on March 31.

Li Ming, spokesperson for China International Development Cooperation Agency, said that China is willing to continue providing assistance to the people in the disaster-stricken areas based on Myanmar's needs, supporting their efforts to overcome the disaster as soon as possible.

He expressed confidence that with the joint efforts of China and the international community, the people of Myanmar will surely be able to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.