Myanmar: A Mother’s Despair After Digging Through Rubble with Bare Hands to Find Her Daughter
March 29, 2025
Yangon, Myanmar – In the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar earlier this week, the destruction has left behind not just physical ruins but an ocean of grief. Among the thousands of victims, one mother’s heartbreaking story stands out—a story of loss, determination, and a mother’s love.
Ma Aye, a woman from the quake-stricken region of Mandalay, has become the face of this unimaginable tragedy. In the hours following the disaster, she stood beside the rubble of what had once been her home, her eyes wild with desperation. Bare-handed, she dug through the debris, hoping against hope to find her daughter, Thiri, who had been inside when the earthquake struck. The tremors caused buildings to collapse, roads to crack, and left entire neighborhoods in ruin.
“I couldn’t wait for the rescuers. I had to do something. I had to find her,” Ma Aye tearfully recounted as she sat among the wreckage of her family’s home. “I dug with my hands until they bled, but I couldn’t find her. She’s gone. I can’t find my daughter.”
The Earthquake’s Devastating Toll
The earthquake, which hit central Myanmar with a magnitude of 7.5, wreaked havoc on the region. Entire towns were flattened, and thousands of people are feared trapped under collapsed buildings. Rescue operations have been slow, with many affected areas still difficult to reach due to blocked roads and infrastructure damage. In addition to the massive loss of life, the quake has left families torn apart, searching for missing loved ones in a landscape of chaos and uncertainty.
Ma Aye’s anguish is shared by many others. Families across Mandalay and nearby villages are digging through the rubble, hoping to rescue their relatives or simply find a final trace of them. The lack of communication and resources has left survivors to fend for themselves, and many are turning to makeshift rescue efforts in a desperate attempt to recover the missing.
For Ma Aye, the task was personal. Her daughter, Thiri, had been just 10 years old—an innocent child with a bright future, now lost in the rubble of a city devastated by disaster. Thiri had been playing in the family’s modest home when the earthquake struck, and despite her mother’s frantic search, no signs of her have been found.
“I called her name, I screamed for her, but nothing. I dug and dug, but the earth swallowed everything,” Ma Aye said, her voice breaking as she recounted the moments after the quake. “I have nothing left. Just memories of her laughter and her smile. Now, all I have is this emptiness.”
The Despair of Other Families
Ma Aye’s story is just one among countless others. The earthquake has claimed the lives of more than a thousand people, with thousands more injured and missing. The entire region is in a state of shock, as entire neighborhoods have been wiped off the map. For the families still searching for loved ones, there is no end in sight to their torment.
In the days following the earthquake, the Myanmar government and local authorities have been struggling to coordinate relief efforts, but the challenges have been overwhelming. Rescue teams, while working tirelessly, are facing immense obstacles due to the damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain. Many communities remain isolated, with little to no access to essential services such as food, water, or medical care.
Ma Aye’s story of digging through the rubble mirrors that of other mothers and fathers who are desperately searching for their children, their spouses, their parents, and their neighbors. In a moment of crisis, the instinct to protect one’s family overpowers all else, and the pain of not knowing if they are alive or dead becomes an unbearable burden.
The Struggles of Relief Efforts
Despite the efforts of local authorities and international organizations, the scale of the devastation has made it difficult for aid to reach those who need it the most. Many affected regions remain without proper communication, making it nearly impossible to coordinate rescue missions and direct supplies to where they are needed. With hospitals overwhelmed and rescue teams spread thin, the situation grows more dire by the hour.
Volunteers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been working around the clock, providing essential supplies, conducting search and rescue operations, and offering emotional support to grieving families. However, the lack of resources, combined with the ongoing aftershocks and unstable conditions, has made the task even more difficult.
“The roads are blocked, and many of the villages are unreachable,” said Soe Htun, a volunteer with the Myanmar Red Cross. “We are doing our best, but the scale of the destruction is unimaginable. Every day, we are finding more people who are lost, and it is heart-wrenching.”
A Glimmer of Hope Amid Despair
For Ma Aye, the grief of losing her daughter is compounded by the uncertainty of whether she will ever find her body. While she has joined the ranks of thousands still digging through the rubble, she clings to a slim hope that somehow, someone will find Thiri alive. But as each hour passes, that hope diminishes.
“I will never stop searching for her,” Ma Aye said, tears streaming down her face. “Even if I never find her, I need to know. I need to have closure. But it’s hard. So hard.”
Despite the overwhelming sadness, Ma Aye and others like her remain determined to find their loved ones. The bonds of family, love, and community are powerful forces, and even in the face of such devastation, they continue to drive people forward.
The Road to Recovery
As the search for the missing continues, Myanmar faces a long and difficult road to recovery. The survivors, many of whom have lost everything, will need extensive support to rebuild their lives. The government, along with international aid organizations, will play a crucial role in ensuring that affected communities receive the care and resources they need.
For now, the people of Myanmar are in mourning, with too many families caught in the agony of not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead. Ma Aye’s story is one of countless tragedies, and yet it also represents the strength and resilience of a people who, even in the face of overwhelming loss, continue to hope, dig, and fight for the chance to be reunited.
As the international community rallies to offer support, Ma Aye’s plea for her daughter echoes the voices of many others: “I just want to find her. Please, someone help me.”
