This is a Q&A with an earthquake survivor who lost his entire family of five inside the 100-year-old Shwe Bhone Shein Mosque compound, located between 82nd and 84th streets in Mandalay, when it collapsed on March 28.

Seven members of his family lived together in one of the buildings within the compound, which housed four buildings in total. All four buildings collapsed during the earthquake.

Only he and one of his two aunts survived. So far, only one of his five family members’ bodies have been recovered, while the remaining four are still buried under the rubble.

DVB News: We are checking in on the latest updates in Mandalay following the earthquake in central Myanmar. What happened to you and your family?

Survivor: The rescue teams haven’t arrived here yet. We’ve requested assistance, and they’ve told me that help is on the way. But as of now, the crane hasn’t arrived, so my family members’ bodies have not yet been recovered.

DVB News: What is the current condition of the area?

Survivor: Four people are still trapped inside. Honestly, I don’t think they’ve survived. Out of the seven of us who were trapped, only three were rescued. Among the three, one of my aunts is in hospital and the other aunt died. I’m unable to walk.

For the remaining four still trapped inside, I no longer have any hope. The earthquake happened at 12 noon on March 28, and until now they haven’t been recovered. There aren’t any cranes available to clear the debris from the collapsed buildings. The last two days passed without any rescue teams recovering their bodies.

DVB News: Were you able to receive medical treatment? How are you doing?

Survivor: As for medical treatment, my aunt who was rescued suffered severe injuries to her legs—bones in her feet were crushed. When she was taken to the hospital, she was left there the entire day without any treatment. When she cried out in pain, she was scolded by staff.

Her injury was in her feet and was not as critical as others, so they told her to get off the hospital bed. How could someone with crushed feet stand up and sit in a chair? They mistreated her.

I do understand that the hospital is overwhelmed with patients. The staff are under extreme pressure. But even so, I don’t think they should speak to patients who are suffering in pain like that.

DVB News: How did you manage to get out of the rubble? Who rescued you?

Survivor: I was in the bathroom when the building collapsed. I had no idea what to do—it all happened in seconds. My mind went blank. When I tried to escape, the part of the building I was about to exit through had collapsed.

As the debris started falling toward my head, I instinctively dodged. At that moment, the earthquake shook again, and when I took a step forward, I lost my balance and fell. That’s when an entire section of the brick wall collapsed onto my lower body.

I was lucky that the bathroom roof partially shielded me. If it hadn’t, the bricks would have landed directly on my legs, and they would have been completely crushed. It still took a lot of effort [for rescuers] to pull me out.

The rubble had piled up, so I couldn’t pull myself out right away. When the tremors subsided, people arrived to clear the debris. They used iron rods to pry me loose, but it still wasn’t easy. I think it took about 20 minutes to get me out.

Thankfully, my legs weren’t broken, but I can’t walk at all. My legs are swollen and badly bruised. The skin has peeled away, and my muscles are strained.

I am still able to take medicine and receive injections. But I can’t walk at all. I can only lie in bed.

DVB News: How is the condition of the mosque that collapsed?

Survivor: Inside the mosque compound, there was our family home, the sanctuary for body cleansing, the prayer room, and the room where we kept the motorbikes. 

These four buildings were constructed before the colonial era, so their condition was already in disrepair. We heard that the government didn’t permit any repairs. I can’t say for sure, but I know the mosque couldn’t be properly maintained. When the earthquake hit, everything collapsed.

As for my house, there was nothing left. My family is now buried under the rubble. The body cleansing room was also completely destroyed.

DVB News: What would you like to be done about the current situation?

Survivor: What I want… is that the ones who passed away can rest peacefully. Losing all five family members in the blink of an eye—it’s unbelievable, I can’t accept it. 

They say when one dies after another, it’s different, but this… this is all at once, all of them, gone in one moment. It’s hard to comprehend, hard to accept.

I just want to make sure they have a peaceful journey in the afterlife. Right now, I can’t even retrieve their bodies. It’s mentally devastating. 

There’s no one to help rescue them, and I can’t even hire a crane… I can’t remove the rubble. The stones are too large. If a crane could be found, we could retrieve them, but it’s too late for that. 

We haven’t had any rescuers come after 24 hours since the earthquake. We’ve searched through the night, but we haven’t found anything. So, at this point, I don’t hold out hope anymore.

DVB News: May we know your feelings as a survivor? 

Survivor: We usually have our breakfast at 3 am, always happy and content, eating together. After we say our morning prayers, we go to bed. 

But when I woke up and opened my eyes, my family was no longer there. It felt like a dream. If this was all just a dream, it would have been so much better.

DVB News: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Survivor: I just hope that rescue efforts arrive quickly. If they do, maybe we can retrieve their bodies. I just want to ensure they can have a peaceful final journey. 

I don’t need anything else—food, shelter, all of that can be managed. The most important thing is that their last journey is peaceful and without suffering. I would be content with that.

DVB News: Thank you for your time.