Myanmar earthquake topples Naypyitaw Airport tower, halts air traffic
PTC Web Desk: A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has devastated Myanmar, several people dead and thousands injured, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors. The disaster has caused extensive destruction, including the collapse of the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport, as seen in satellite images analyzed by AP.
The images reveal that the tower was completely uprooted, with debris scattered across the area. It remains unclear if any air traffic personnel were injured in the collapse. The destruction of the control tower likely disrupted all flight operations, forcing rescue planes from China to land in Yangon instead of directly reaching Mandalay or Naypyitaw—two of the worst-hit cities.
The military-led government has confirmed 1,002 fatalities, with 2,376 people injured and 30 missing. Officials warn that the toll may rise as further assessments are conducted. The quake struck near Mandalay on Friday, followed by multiple strong aftershocks, including one of 6.4 magnitude.
Widespread damage has been reported across the country, with buildings reduced to rubble, roads buckling, bridges collapsing, and a dam bursting due to the tremors. In Naypyitaw, repair crews were deployed to fix damaged infrastructure while most of the city remained without power, phone, or internet services.
Myanmar, already struggling with an ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis, now faces the additional challenge of post-earthquake recovery. The authorities have restricted access to government housing complexes affected by the disaster, raising concerns about the full scale of devastation. Rescue operations continue amid the ongoing turmoil.
- With inputs from agencies
