The devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with the collapse of a religious examination hall in Mandalay claiming the lives of several Buddhist monks. Rescue workers continue to search through the rubble, hoping to find survivors amid the debris.
Monks Trapped Under Collapsed Examination Hall
The disaster struck during a crucial examination session at the U Hla Thein monastery, where more than 180 monks were seated for their senior-level monkhood exams. The powerful tremors caused the three-story building to collapse, trapping many inside.
A haunting image from before the disaster shows the monks sitting in pink plastic chairs, their heads bent in concentration as they worked on their exam papers—moments before the earthquake turned the hall into a mass of concrete and debris.
By Sunday morning, 21 people had been pulled out alive, while 13 bodies had been recovered. However, officials fear that dozens more could still be trapped under the wreckage.
Desperate Search for Survivors
Among those anxiously awaiting news is Kyaw Swe, whose son, Seikta, has been missing since the collapse. Seikta, a devoted monk for 31 years, had been taking the exam at the time.
“I am hoping he is alive,” said Kyaw Swe, tears streaming down his face. “His mother is very sad.”
Rescue workers have detected signs of life beneath the rubble and are using jackhammers to break through the layers of collapsed concrete. However, the unstable structure of the remaining building poses a serious risk, with every sudden noise sending rescuers and onlookers scrambling in fear of another collapse.
A Community in Mourning
Many family members of the missing monks, along with fellow novices and devotees, have gathered at the site, some wearing surgical masks to shield themselves from the dust and the overwhelming stench of decay. They watch anxiously as the rescue operation continues.
San Nwe Aye, whose brother was one of the exam administrators, expressed hope that he would remain strong. “I want to hear the sound of him preaching again,” she said. “He has such a great voice. I feel happy whenever I see him.”
Faith Amid Tragedy
Despite the grief and uncertainty, many in the Buddhist community have turned to their religious beliefs for solace.
Bhone Thuta, a 31-year-old monk who has studied Buddhism for 18 years, reflected on the disaster with acceptance.
“This happens because it’s meant to be. You can’t blame anyone,” he said. “In Buddhism, we believe it is because of our karma from past lives. We are merely repaying our debts. Only Buddha knows what will happen.”
As rescue operations continue, Myanmar mourns the loss of its monks while holding onto hope that more survivors will be found in the wreckage.
