In brief
As a 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Myanmar, Mandalay General Hospital faces an overwhelming influx of patients, treating many outside due to lack of space.
In the sweltering parking lot of Mandalay General Hospital, dozens of injured individuals, some with severe head and arm injuries, lay on stretchers and cardboard in the blistering 100-degree heat, while others rested directly on the concrete ground. Dr. Kyaw Zin, a surgeon at the hospital, lamented, “More injured people keep arriving, but we do not have enough doctors and nurses.” He added that supplies, including cotton swabs, were running low, exacerbating the dire situation. The hospital was severely overcrowded following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday, leading to a scenario where even standing space was scarce. Dr. Kyaw expressed his concerns for his own family as phone connections failed, saying, “I’m very worried about my parents…but I can’t go back home yet. I have to save lives here first.” Even before this earthquake, Myanmar's health care system was grappling with significant pressures, particularly after the military junta’s coup in 2021, which led to increased risks for health care workers who have been involved in opposition movements. The country is noted as one of the most perilous locations globally for medical professionals according to Physicians for Human Rights.As the earthquake struck, Dr. Kyaw was preparing for surgery but had to flee outside with his patients as the tremors were felt. The chaos intensified with ambulance sirens wailing and more victims arriving, with nurses frantically checking on those in the parking lot who were connected to intravenous treatments. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of blood and anguish. The military junta reported it had no clear death toll yet, revealing concerns about damaged infrastructure that could impede access to beleaguered regions already burdened by ongoing civil conflict. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Sagaing region, an area known for its resistance to military governance. The World Health Organization has stated that communications remain disrupted due to aftershocks, making it challenging to gather information but indicated plans to deploy trauma supplies to assist the ravaged country.
