Rows of injured lay outside the emergency department of a 1,000-bed hospital in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, on Friday, as casualties poured in after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake. Many arrived in cars and pickups, others carried on stretchers, their bodies covered in dust and blood.
 |
| Myanmar Earthquake Live Updates: 'Death toll rises to 694, over 1,600 injured,' says junta |
"This is a mass casualty area," a hospital official said while urging journalists to step back.
The hospital itself suffered severe damage from the tremors, which buckled roads and ripped apart tarmac. Its emergency department was heavily affected, with a car crushed beneath the collapsed entrance.
“Many injured people have been arriving. I haven’t seen anything like this before,” a doctor told AFP. “We are trying to handle the situation. I’m so exhausted.”
Patients groaned in pain, some motionless as relatives comforted them. IV drips hung from their arms while others, dazed and bloodied, sat with their heads in their hands. Security officials said, “Hundreds of injured people are arriving… but the emergency building here also collapsed.”
Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, visited the hospital, inspecting the wounded.
The powerful quake struck northwest of Sagaing, about 250 km from Naypyidaw, followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, exacerbating the devastation.
Stay with TOI for more updates:
Comments
Post a Comment