Chinese rescue teams rush to save lives after Myanmar earthquake

Chinese rescuers join local teams in Myanmar to provide aid and emergency relief.

China civil rescue team conducts search and rescue operations amid the ruins in Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 31, 2025. Photo by Chen Yongnuo/VCG

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, causing widespread destruction and leaving thousands of people dead, injured, or missing. In response, Chinese rescue teams have swiftly mobilized to provide emergency assistance, racing against time to save survivors trapped beneath the rubble. The rescue teams, which include personnel from China’s Yunnan Province and the Blue Sky Rescue team, have joined Myanmar’s fire and rescue departments to coordinate relief efforts.

Chinese rescue teams arrive with advanced equipment

A 37-member rescue and medical team from China's Yunnan Province arrived at Yangon International Airport early on Saturday, March 29. They brought advanced emergency response equipment, including life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite phones, and drones. These tools are crucial for locating survivors and ensuring efficient communication during search and rescue operations.

Upon arrival, the team was immediately briefed by Myanmar’s fire and rescue department before traveling to the badly hit capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Late on Saturday night, the Chinese rescuers arrived in the city and immediately began rescue operations, working through the night to locate survivors.

At around 5 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, after nearly 40 hours of continuous rescue efforts, the team successfully pulled an elderly man from the ruins of the collapsed Ottara Thiri Private Hospital. The survivor had been trapped for almost two days, highlighting the critical importance of international aid in disaster response.

Senior Myanmar officials acknowledge China’s rescue efforts

On Sunday morning, Myanmar’s State Administration Council Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, visited the hospital to oversee relief efforts. He expressed his appreciation to the Chinese rescue teams for their swift and effective assistance in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

In Mandalay, one of the hardest-hit cities, members of China’s first Blue Sky Rescue team arrived on Sunday morning and quickly began rescue operations alongside local volunteers. By 9:30 a.m., the team had already located and rescued an earthquake survivor.

Overseas Chinese volunteers play a key role

Hundreds of overseas Chinese volunteers in Myanmar have joined the relief efforts, providing technical, logistical, and information support to the rescue teams. More than 100 young volunteers started working as early as 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, helping collect vital information and coordinate emergency response strategies.

As rescue operations continue, humanitarian aid supplies have been arriving at the China-Myanmar border. On Saturday evening, large shipments of emergency supplies, including tents, blankets, and folding mattresses, were transported through the Ruili Port border checkpoint. Many overseas Chinese residents in Yangon have also been driving long distances to deliver antiseptics, gloves, and N95 masks to rescue workers in Mandalay.

Local restaurants have stepped up by offering free meals to the rescue teams, ensuring that emergency workers remain well-nourished as they continue their life-saving missions.

Myanmar-China coordination enhances relief efforts

To expedite the clearance of rescue personnel and aid shipments, China and Myanmar have established a post-earthquake emergency clearance coordination mechanism. This system, operating 24 hours a day, includes a "green channel" to fast-track medical teams and relief supplies across the border. Officials from Kunming Customs have confirmed that this mechanism is helping accelerate the delivery of essential aid.

According to Myanmar’s State Administration Council, the devastating earthquake has so far resulted in 1,700 deaths, with 3,400 injured and 300 people still missing. As rescue efforts continue, international aid—including the work of Chinese rescue teams—remains crucial in saving lives and assisting those affected by the disaster.

With the situation still unfolding, Chinese rescue teams and volunteers remain committed to supporting Myanmar through this crisis. Their coordinated efforts with local emergency services are proving vital in the ongoing search for survivors and the distribution of much-needed humanitarian aid.