Heavy machinery shortage impedes search for survivors of earthquake

Heavy machinery needed on Saturday, March 29, 2025, for the rescue of survivors of the large earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday appears to be in short supply.

According to CNN, the 7.7-magnitude earthquake affected Myanmar and nearby cities.

Rescuers have been scrambling through dirt with their bare hands to try and rescue those still trapped under rubble.

Media reports reveal Myanmar is ill-equipped to deal with the fallout of such natural disasters.

The country has been mired in a bloody civil war since 2021 which has decimated infrastructure and internally displaced millions of citizens.

“There’s too much rubble, and no rescue teams have come for us,” earthquake survivor Htet Min Oo, 25, told Reuters in Mandalay, one of the hardest-hit cities.

He described how some of his extended family members remain trapped under a collapsed building,.

This was despite his efforts to dig them out with his hands.

Meanwhile in Amarapura, a township in Mandalay city, a rescue worker said he was trying to reach 140 monks still under the rubble of a building.

“We cannot help because we do not have enough manpower and machines to remove the debris,” he told the news agency.

He added defiantly “we will not stop working.”

Several countries deployed rescue teams to Myanmar to boost relief operations.

Many people are still reportedly missing after the country’s military government made a rare plea for help.

A Chinese team was the first international rescue group to reach Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon on Saturday morning.

This is according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The shortage of heavy machinery in the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Myanmar is indeed a critical issue.

When an earthquake strikes, the aftermath often leaves large amounts of debris, collapsed buildings, and infrastructure that must be cleared to reach survivors.

Heavy machinery such as bulldozers, cranes, and excavators is essential to remove rubble, clear pathways, and aid in the rescue operations.

A shortage of such equipment could significantly impede the rescue efforts in several ways:

1. Delayed Rescue Operations: Without the necessary machinery, rescuers are forced to rely on manual labor. This is much slower and less effective in accessing areas where survivors might be trapped. This could lead to crucial delays in saving lives.
2. Limited Access to Affected Areas: Some areas affected by the earthquake might be hard to reach due to the collapse of buildings or roads. Heavy machinery is required to clear these obstacles, but without enough resources, rescue teams may be unable to access these locations.
3. Increased Strain on Local Resources: Myanmar’s resources might already be stretched thin, and international aid might take time to arrive. This creates a compounded challenge for local authorities and responders, as they have to balance resources across many areas of need.
4. Difficulty in Coordinating Large-Scale Operations: Rescue operations require coordination between different teams and agencies. A lack of heavy machinery may force these teams to work less efficiently, or in some cases, they may be unable to operate in certain parts of the disaster zone at all.

This shortage of machinery may also indicate broader logistical or supply chain challenges, including the need for more funding, international assistance.

It also includes long-term recovery planning to rebuild infrastructure and support future disaster preparedness.

In the wake of this issue, analysts say that Myanmar may require more external support, both in terms of equipment and personnel, to aid in the critical search-and-rescue phase.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook