How will Myanmar’s earthquake impression the civil struggle? – podcast | Earthquakes

“It took round 4 to 5 minutes for the earthquake to shake after which it stopped and shook once more. It’s the most extreme earthquake I’ve skilled in my life.”

Esther J is a reporter based mostly in Bangkok, Thailand, greater than 600 miles (966km) away from her residence nation of Myanmar – the epicentre of final week’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake.

Described by the Purple Cross as inflicting a stage of devastation that “hasn’t been seen in over a century in Asia”, the earthquake has killed at the very least 3,000 folks in Myanmar with the determine anticipated to rise.

Esther has been talking to survivors who’ve described kinfolk trapped underneath the rubble and worshippers crushed throughout Friday prayers – however she has been unable to report from the nation itself due to the army junta that is still in energy.

“The condominium I used to reside in earlier than the coup was already raided by the army and likewise my checking account was frozen. It’s not protected for me to go inside Myanmar.”

Rebecca Ratcliffe, the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, tells Hannah Moore that 4 years of army rule and civil struggle had already left Myanmar in disaster earlier than the catastrophe. Meals insecurity was rife and healthcare techniques had been devastated. And but regardless of this, she describes how the army has been conducting airstrikes throughout the reduction efforts and blocking the motion of some worldwide assist.

Within the final yr, the army has suffered plenty of battlefield defeats and its energy is now significantly diminished, reportedly controlling solely a fifth of the nation. Whereas some opposition teams consider that the autumn of the junta is inevitable, after calling for a ceasefire on Wednesday evening, Rebecca explains that the regime could also be attempting to show the tide and enhance relations with its most important supporter, China.