Since Friday’s huge quake hit central Myanmar, communication with Mandalay has been difficult making it hard to assess the true extent of the damage for those close to the disaster zone,
CNN reports.
The city of around 1.5 million people is the nearest major population center to the epicenter. It is the former royal capital, filled with historical architecture and cultural treasures.
CNN managed to reach one woman living there, who recalled the terrifying moment a family member was buried by rubble. She asked not to be named.
“It hit very strong and very fast,” she said of the earthquake. She recalled she was boiling water to make milk for her baby when the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck not far from her home to the east of the city on Friday.
Part of the wall of the house collapsed onto the woman’s grandmother who was sitting nearby, burying her legs in rubble and debris, she said.
“The door couldn’t open as a fence had collapsed onto it. I shouted out for help and my husband came in from the street. He jumped on the door and managed to open it.”
The two of them carried her grandmother to a clinic.
“There are cracks in our ceiling and wall,” she said. “Nearly all” of the buildings in the woman’s neighborhood showed signs of some damage, she said.
More than 1,000 people have been confirmed killed across Myanmar, state broadcaster MRTV said earlier on Saturday. Experts warn that toll is likely to increase.
