Trapped in ruins with no sunlight, lacking water and food, how long can a person survive in such extreme conditions? After the earthquake in Myanmar, a 52-year-old man was buried in the collapsed ruins for 125 hours, and finally miraculously survived due to the persistent efforts of multiple Chinese rescue teams. Let's review the whole process of his rescue and feel the urgency and thrill of the rescue operation.
7-Storey Hotel Reduced to 5
On March 28 in Mandalay, Myanmar, the day seemed ordinary as the sun heated the ground, with daytime temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius. At the Golden Country Hotel about a 30-minute walk from the city center, guests and staff moved in and out. This four-star hotel was praised on travel websites for its beautiful courtyard and excellent service.
However, at 12:50 PM local time (2:20 PM Hong Kong time), the ground suddenly shook violently for about five minutes, followed by continuous aftershocks. News reports soon confirmed a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar. People in the hotel felt the tremors immediately, and then the originally seven-storey building collapsed with a loud crash, crushing the first floor, sinking the second floor, and turning the third floor into the first.
A 52-year-old guest who was staying in room 207 on the second floor was buried in the rubble.
Confirming Signs of Life
On April 2, in Mandalay, Myanmar, the temperature was still unbearably high at 42 degrees Celsius. It was the fifth day after the 7.9 magnitude earthquake, and the heat added significant challenges to the rescue efforts. Several Chinese rescue teams had been working tirelessly in the disaster area for days, wearing heavy rescue gear and searching through the ruins for survivors.
At 9 AM local time, the Chinese rescue team and the Shenzhen Public Welfare Rescue Team arrived at the hotel. According to the command center's arrangement, they needed to carefully check for any signs of life. Previous rescue teams had not detected any signs of life in the rubble due to various reasons.
After nearly 30 minutes of searching, a new radar life detector brought by the Shenzhen team detected weak life signals beneath the rubble. After adjusting their angle and retesting, the signs of life remained.
"At first, we thought it was a rat or a cat, or some other small animal," rescue personnel revealed. "After testing twice, we still found signs of life. We then tested again from a nearby open area and found weak signals about four to five meters away."
After confirming the signs of life, the rescuers assessed the stability of the remaining hotel structure. Structural engineers confirmed that it was safe to proceed with demolition for further searching. The three rescue teams established working fronts from two directions toward the trapped individual.
Two Hours to Open a Rescue Channel
However, the rescue operation was not so smooth. During the search for the trapped individual, Mandalay experienced aftershocks, prompting all rescuers to temporarily evacuate the hotel ruins. After waiting for a while and confirming that the aftershocks posed no danger, the rescue personnel quickly returned to their positions.
Rescue team members once again entered the ruins. In room 307 of the hotel, the double bed, vanity, and TV showed no signs of damage, resembling a long-vacant room. Through the wooden floor, the life detector reacted again, confirming life signals beneath room 307 in room 207. The rescuer decisively decided to create an opening in the ground to facilitate observation and understand the trapped individual's condition, as well as to provide drinking water through the hole.
"We drilled down from 307 and saw him with a snake-eye (detector)," said one rescuer. Everyone held their breath, letting the translator shout down.
"Can he see the light from our flashlight?" asked a rescuer.
"Yes, he can see it. He wants some water," replied the translator.
"Tell him to hold on; we'll break through another layer!"
That afternoon at 3:30 PM, after confirming that the trapped individual was not injured and his vital signs were stable, the rescue team began to make a concerted effort. After discussing and planning the rescue strategy, the joint rescue teams started to open a rescue channel from room 307. Tools like electric drills and chisels were brought in, and everyone worked together to quickly break through the wooden floor and cement layer, exposing rebar, which was then cut. During this process, rescuers provided the trapped individual with small amounts of saline through a pipe to help replenish his energy and continuously comforted him.
After about two hours of relentless rescue work, the rescuers finally cut open a square meter opening, drilled down, and saw the man who was buried under the rubble. At that moment, he was lying in a narrow space, where raising his head would hit the "ceiling." Fortunately, during the earthquake, he happened to be hiding in a corner, avoiding being crushed by the collapsing building. However, this also left him trapped in this small space, unable to move, lying there for five days.
Room 307 began filling with debris cleared from room 207. At 5:50 PM, after clearing the rubble surrounding the man, the rescue channel was fully opened. After repeatedly confirming his condition, they pulled him out and placed him on a spinal board. They then guided him through the cut doors to the window. All rescue members gathered together, using their collective strength to lift him out of the ruins, and at that moment, the scene erupted in applause. This survivor, trapped for 125 hours, finally escaped under the tireless efforts of Chinese rescue teams.
Rescue Continues in 40-Degree Heat
The man was rescued; this 52-year-old man from Myanmar was in fair spirits when found, and after some dehydration, he was immediately taken to a local medical facility in Mandalay for further treatment. He was fortunate, being the ninth survivor rescued by the Chinese rescue teams in Myanmar. This collaborative rescue operation involving the China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team, the Hong Kong SAR rescue team, and the Shenzhen Public Welfare Rescue Team managed to save another life from the grip of death on the fifth day after the earthquake.
In April, the temperature in Mandalay remained around 40 degrees Celsius. On the sixth day after the earthquake, just one day after the man was rescued, members of the Chinese rescue teams continued their search in this sweltering environment, undeterred and tireless, hoping to find the next survivor.
(Reported by Su Ting; English editor: Darius)
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