Rescuers in Myanmar and Thailand are desperately searching for survivors from the catastrophic earthquake that occurred on Friday, May 9, 2025. Rescuers have been searching for more than 3 days from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar. It made buildings crumble to the floor as far away as the Thai capital Bangkok, and sent tremors through near Chinese provinces. The first 72 hours after an earthquake is known as the “golden” window to reach victims buried alive under rubble from the buildings. According to a geologist who spoke to CNN, the energy unleashed by the earthquake was equal to 334 atomic bombs, and aftershocks might last for months. More than 2,000 victims from the earthquake are confirmed dead in Myanmar after what was the largest earthquake to hit the country in more than a century, authorities say. The last time an earthquake that was this powerful close to Myanmar was in 1912. This earthquake was located in Taunggyi, a city located in central Myanmar. Experts from the earthquake that people studied feared that the death total could take weeks to get a final number. More damage was done and reported after the earthquake caused bridges and buildings to collapse, including in Bangkok, where authorities are trying to free loads of people. They are believed to be trapped under all the rubble, and still to be alive. Rescuers say that there are multiple families under this rubble that are still alive, but think they are in critical condition. The epicenter was recorded in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region. The epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the hypocenter (the focus) of an earthquake, which is the point where the earthquake originates within the Earth. In other words, it’s the surface location where the greatest damage is often experienced. Myanmar is near the former royal capital Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million people. There are multiple historic temple complexes and palaces located in Mandalay that were destroyed. Those at the epicenter of the earthquake are cut off from areas around them because of the collapse of the main bridge over the country’s Irrawaddy River. Meanwhile, foreign aid and international resume teams around the area have started to arrive in Myanmar after the military asked for help in the search for people. Friday’s earthquake on May 9, 2025 was the deadliest natural disaster to hit the country in years. It has left the country in shambles, and has cut off communication networks, battered health infrastructure, and left millions without food and shelter. At least 2,056 people are confirmed dead, and more than 3,900 are injured, the country’s military government said on Monday, May 12, 2025. The United States Geological survey estimated that the final death toll should be around 10,000 people or more, based on early modeling of all the damage around the city. In Bangkok, which is at least hundreds of miles away from the epicenter, 18 people were killed. 11 out of the 18 that died were working on an under construction building that collapsed in minutes and killed them. The rest of the workers are trapped under the rubble from the building. Search and rescue teams are underway looking for around 80 people who live in Bangkok who remain missing. Several countries have developed resources to help rescue and relief operations after Myanmar’s military leaders asked for help. A team in China was the first to reach out to Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon on Saturday, May 10, 2025. They wanted to help and assist the country and give them 13.8 million dollars to humanitarian assistance for those in need in Myanmar. Russia was another country to help, and was quick to respond to help after China did. The UK, Ireland, and Australia will donate aid packages to Myanmar up to more than 20 million dollars in humanitarian assistance. Donald Trump, the president of the United States, called the earthquake “terrible” and promised that the US would also provide aid. Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and India have also declared that they want to provide help.