Vietnamese rescuers retrieve body of 10-year-old Myanmar boy from earthquake rubble

Vietnamese rescue forces recovered the body of a 10-year-old Myanmarese boy from a collapsed building near Naypyidaw, Myanmar's capital, on Monday evening, marking the start of their humanitarian assistance operations following a devastating earthquake on March 28.

A delegation of 106 Vietnamese military and police personnel arrived in Myanmar on Sunday afternoon and commenced their relief efforts on Monday.

The team was jointly led by Major General Pham Van Ty, deputy head of the Search and Rescue Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and Colonel Nguyen Minh Khuong, deputy head of the Police Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue under the Ministry of Public Security.

In Zabuthiri Township, near Naypyidaw, a Vietnamese rescue team worked tirelessly to locate missing individuals. On Monday evening, they discovered the body of 10-year-old M.K.T.N., who had perished due to the magnitude-7.7 earthquake's impact.

The authorities have returned his remains to his family.

Previously, the team conducted surveys and identified some locations within a collapsed four-story building with 24 bedrooms where people were likely trapped.

"We eventually detected two individuals trapped, including a child," stated Colonel Khuong.


At the scene, the team was divided into groups to conduct search and rescue operations. Due to limited access to heavy equipment locally, the team resorted to using cutting machines to clear obstacles, including concrete blocks, to find and recover the boy's body, the official stated.

As temperatures in Naypyidaw soared to nearly 40 degrees Celsius, it was challenging for the sniffer dogs to detect scents while the decomposition of victims' bodies accelerated.

In addition to deploying rescue forces, Vietnam has provided Myanmar with emergency relief supplies along with US$300,000 in aid to help the country overcome the earthquake's aftermath.

This is not the first time Vietnam has participated in international earthquake relief efforts. In February 2023, the Ministry of Public Security dispatched 24 officers and medical staff to assist Turkey in overcoming the aftermath of an earthquake.

As of Monday evening (Vietnam time), the devastating earthquake that struck last Friday has resulted in 2,056 deaths, 3,900 injuries, and 270 missing persons, AFP reported, citing Myanmar's military government.

The death toll is expected to rise further, as many affected areas in Myanmar remain isolated, and the country's transportation infrastructure has suffered severe damage from the disaster.

Vinh Tho - Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/04/01-17:33)