Lessons and liquids: buried alive in Myanmar's earthquake
Entombed under his hotel bed for five days in the debris, two things enabled teacher Tin Maung Htwe to survive Myanmar's devastating earthquake: old school lessons and his own urine.
The primary school headmaster was on a training course in Sagaing, the closest place to the epicentre, when the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck.
The 47-year-old remembered a decades-old school lesson to shelter under a bed if the world starts to shake.
"As soon as I went under the bed, the whole hotel fell down and was blocked. All I could afford was to say 'save me'," he said.
"I was shouting 'save me, save me'."
The Swal Taw Nann guesthouse where he was staying was reduced to a pile of bricks and twisted metal strips, the broken shell of its top storey resting on the remains of those below, and Tin Maung Htwe in a ground floor room underneath it all.
"I felt as though I was in hell," he said weakly, an oxygen tube running to his nose and two intravenous drips into his reduced frame.
"My body was burning hot and all I needed was water. I couldn't get that water from anywhere.
"So I have to refill the water my body needed with fluids coming out of my body."
-- 'I am free' --
The intensity of destruction in Sagaing, closer to the epicentre, is far higher than in neighbouring Mandalay, with a much greater proportion of its buildings reduced to piles of debris.
Great gouges have been opened up in the main road towards it –- jamming traffic and hampering those trying to help the victims -– and the Ava bridge across the Irrawaddy linking the two cities is down, one end of six of its 10 spans resting in the placid waters.
Residents said the Myanmar Red Cross were recovering bodies from the site and were not expecting to find anyone alive when they located him, and a Malaysian rescue team was called in to extract him.
One of eight siblings, his sister Nan Yone, 50, was one of several of his relatives watching and waiting as they worked at the site.
"I can't describe it," said Nan Yone of his rescue on Wednesday.
"I was dancing, crying and beating my chest because I was so happy."
When he arrived at Sagaing's main hospital he gave her a thumbs-up and told her: "Sister I am very good."
"His will is very strong and I think that is why he survived," she said on the day he was rescued.
As she spoke nurses tended to her semi-conscious brother on a outdoor gurney, his head lolling occasionally from side to side.
No one is being treated indoors at the facility, for fear of an aftershock wreaking more havoc.
"I am glad I am free now," Tin Maung Htwe told AFP.
"I wouldn't be able to do anything if I was dead. I didn't die so now I can do whatever I wish."
He wants to go back to his work as a schoolteacher. But he added: "I am considering becoming a Buddhist monk."
bur/slb/hmn
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Atlantic
4 hours ago
- Atlantic
Oceans Awash in Plastic Waste
An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans each year, according to the U.S. State Department—and some of it accumulates in highly visible ways. Şebnem Coşkun / Anadolu / Getty Turkish free diver Şahika Ercümen dives amid plastic waste on the Ortaköy coastline to raise awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans, and to observe the conditions in the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 27, 2020. Nhac Nguyen / AFP / Getty A Vietnamese woman gathers shells in a coastal forest littered with plastic waste that stuck in branches after it was washed up by the rising tide, in Thanh Hoa province, about 150 kilometers south of Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 18, 2018. Nina Gomes recovers a discarded plastic bag from ocean waters near the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 19, 2024. Bags of plastic waste and garbage recovered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are unloaded at the Port of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on July 23, 2024. The Ocean Cleanup is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that develops and deploys technologies to rid the world's oceans of plastic. A plastic ball floats in the Strait of Gibraltar, about 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) away from the nearest shore, near Barbate, Spain, on July 31, 2018. Bhushan Koyande / Hindustan Times / Getty Children walk through tons of plastic waste on a shallow shoreline near Badhwar Park in Mumbai, India, on June 4, 2025. Raşid Necati Aslim / Anadolu / Getty A giant 11-meter-long whale sculpture called Whale on the Wharf , made of recycled plastic waste, is placed in London's Canary Wharf area on April 15, 2025, to draw attention to plastic pollution in the oceans. In this photo taken on October 22, 2019, plastic and other debris sit on a beach on Midway Atoll in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. According to a study released in 2020, more than a million tons a year of America's plastic trash isn't ending up where it should. The equivalent of as many as 1,300 plastic grocery bags per person is landing in places such as oceans and roadways. In this photo from October 22, 2019, small pieces of plastic waste are shown in the decomposed carcass of a seabird on a beach on Midway Atoll. In one of the most remote places on Earth, Midway Atoll is a wildlife sanctuary that should be a safe haven for seabirds and other marine animals. Instead, creatures here struggle to survive as their bellies fill with plastic from faraway places. Josep Lago / AFP via Getty This photo taken on January 12, 2024, shows plastic nurdles at La Pineda beach in Tarragona, Spain. Cem Ozdel / Anadolu / Getty Modou Fall, a Senegalese environmental activist also known as 'Plastic Man,' is raising awareness about environmental pollution with his costume made of hundreds of plastic bags. He's shown here in Dakar, Senegal, on March 27, 2025. The 55-year-old Plastic Man organizes discussions and various events to educate the public about environmental pollution and climate change. Wearing his plastic outfit and carrying a note on his chest reading Africa is not a trash can , he walks the streets and beaches of Dakar to highlight the impact of plastic use on the environment. Olivier Morin / AFP / Getty This photo shows several dead herring trapped in a plastic packaging net on May 3, 2023, near Pietarsaari, Finland, as the late spring's sea ice was melting slowly. Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP / Getty A view of a canal that empties into Lagos Lagoon, clogged with rigid foam and single-use plastic, at Obalende in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 23, 2024. Agung Parameswara / Getty Small pieces of plastic that washed ashore on Kedonganan Beach and were collected in Kedonganan, Bali, Indonesia, shown on February 2, 2021. In Bali, known for its beaches and sunsets, the northwest monsoon brings vast amounts of plastic waste to its world-famous shores. Volunteers from a nongovernmental organization hold hands after cleaning the São Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 8, 2023, as part of World Oceans Day. Tahsin Ceylan / Anadolu / Getty Divers from the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation and Kas Underwater Association team carry out underwater cleaning operations off the coast of Antalya's Kas district on May 4, 2025. During the sea-cleaning operation, a large variety of items such as cellphones, plastic chairs, plates, forks, hats, glass, and plastic bottles were removed. Mladen Antonov / AFP / Getty A wave carrying plastic waste and other rubbish washes up on a beach in Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand on January 19, 2021. Li Xinjun / Xinhua / Getty Primary-school students clean up garbage at Binhai Park in Rongcheng City, in east China's Shandong Province, on June 4, 2025.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Cheaper, riskier, more meaningful: Why Malaysians send their Korban abroad for Aidiladha (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — More Malaysian Muslims are choosing to perform their Hari Raya Korban abroad, citing lower costs and a desire to help communities in crisis. Instead of local mosques or farms, their sacrificial meat ends up feeding families in war-torn Gaza or famine-stricken Chad. There is also an increasing number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and companies that offer end-to-end services – letting donors choose livestock, countries, and recipients with just a few clicks – and cheaper livestock prices in countries like Thailand, India and Chad than at home. Malaysian Islamic authorities also do not restrict Muslims from performing their Qurban overseas, even though it is encouraged that they do it locally. While it may be simpler on the contributor's end, the NGOs tasked with executing these sacrifices abroad often face extreme challenges, especially in conflict zones. Korban in Palestine View this post on Instagram A post shared by MyCARE (@ Muhamad Afiq Zharif Abdul Aziz, supervisor of the MyQurbani programme under Humanitarian Care Malaysia Berhad (MyCare), said part of the reason Malaysians opt to send Korban abroad because they are aware of the geopolitical situations their Muslim brethren face in their homelands, and feel a strong sympathy. Some Malaysians have even experienced the hardships first hand, and feel compelled to continue doing what they can after coming home. 'We were in the midst of buying flight tickets and accommodation before we got the call from our partners saying that they've managed to get across the border. 'So I told them to just proceed and not to wait for us and they went in and Alhamdulillah, we received confirmation from them that all of the Korban and canned beef had been successfully distributed after three days. 'They cooked some of the beef to feed the people there while the rest was given directly to the Palestinians,' he told Malay Mail in a recent interview. MyQurbani operates in 12 countries, including Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Somalia, India and Afghanistan. The programme, which began as Qurban Kasih Ummah under Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia, was rebranded as MyQurbani in 2010. The countries are selected based on their current geopolitical situation with the three main criteria including whether the people in the country are victims of war or in a state of hunger or in extreme poverty. Last year, it distributed meat to over 17,000 families, including 6,000 Palestinian families in the West Bank and Gaza. MyQurbani programme supervisor, Muhammad Afiq Zharif Abdul Aziz sharing a selfie with some of the beneficiaries in India. — Picture courtesy of MyCare Malaysia Afiq said they were fortunate to conduct the ritual in the West Bank and Baitul Maqdis, while delivering canned and frozen beef to Gaza. These efforts were made possible through their partner, UK-based Al-Khair Foundation, which has been active in Palestine for seven years. 'Normally, getting entry into Palestine is very difficult due to extensive military checkpoints and blockades at each entry point,' said Afiq. He said Al-Khair had to build strong relationships with authorities in Jordan and Egypt to gain access. In 2024, the delivery team crossed the Jordan-Palestine border in just a few hours – a rare success. But crossing borders is only part of the challenge. Afiq said trucks carrying aid risk being attacked by illegal settlers. 'They sometimes throw objects and even homemade molotov cocktails,' he said. Despite the risks, MyQurbani plans to continue its work in Palestine as long as partners remain operational. The NGO also runs a field office in Gaza to support distribution and other humanitarian efforts. Surrounded by the hungry Volunteers from Yayasan Amal Malaysia performing Korban rites during their Amal Qurban programme. — Picture courtesy of Yayasan Amal Malaysia Another Malaysian NGO involved in overseas Korban is Yayasan Amal Malaysia. Its Amal Qurban programme runs in 15 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and several African nations. Operations head Umar Abdul Aziz Zaman told Malay Mail in a recent interview that participation this year is slightly lower than previous years. He said the highest response came during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when the group sacrificed over 900 cows and nearly 2,000 goats. 'This is because our clients have given us the trust and responsibility to carry out the Korban and it is imperative that we see it through until the end. 'Only for the distribution part we will leave it to our partners,' said Umar. Unlike groups that outsource the task, Yayasan Amal sends teams of around 18 volunteers to each country. This year, Umar will again lead a team to the Republic of Chad, which continues to face instability due to inter-communal violence, civil unrest, and crime. Yayasan Amal Malaysia during their 2024 Amal Korban programme in the Republic of Chad. — Picture courtesy of Yayasan Amal Malaysia He recalled a tense moment during a previous trip when desperate villagers surrounded their team. 'At first I saw one head and just a few minutes later, more heads started to pop up from the walls – and we were technically surrounded by them. 'Things were so hectic that the police who were escorting us had to fire some warning shots in the air to disperse the crowd. 'They were the local villagers there who were waiting for their Korban meat,' he said. Despite the scare, the team completed their mission safely. To ensure smooth operations, Amal Qurban sends teams five to six months in advance to confirm logistics and verify beneficiary lists. Whether performed at home or abroad, Korban remains an act of devotion and charity. But for many Malaysian Muslims, doing it overseas allows their contributions to go further – and reach those in urgent need.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Michele Kaemmerer, first transgender LAFD captain, dies at 80
When Michele Kaemmerer showed up at firehouses in the 1990s, she sometimes encountered firefighters who didn't want to work with her and would ask to go home sick. Los Angeles fire officials supported Kaemmerer, the city's first transgender fire captain, by denying the requests. If the slights hurt her, she didn't let it show. "She really let things roll off her back pretty well. Some of the stuff was really hurtful, but she always had a good attitude," said Janis Walworth, Kaemmerer's widow. "She never took that out on anybody else. She was never bitter or angry." Kaemmerer, an early leader for transgender and women's rights at a department not known for its warm welcome to women and minorities, died May 21 at age 80 of heart disease at her home in Bellingham, Wash. She is survived by Walworth and two children. A Buddhist, a Democrat, a feminist and a lesbian transgender woman, Kaemmerer busted stereotypes of what a firefighter was. She joined the LAFD in 1969 — long before she transitioned in 1991 — and became a captain 10 years later. 'Being in a fire, inside of a building on fire, at a brush fire … it's adrenaline-producing and it's great,' Kaemmerer said in a 1999 episode of the PBS show 'In The Life,' which documented issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. The episode featured Kaemmerer when she was captain of Engine 63 in Marina del Rey. 'The men and women here feel very stressed out having a gay and lesbian captain,' Savitri Carlson, a paramedic at the firehouse, said in the episode. 'You have to realize, this is not just a job. We live, sleep, shower, eat together, change together.' But Kaemmerer brushed off the snubs. 'They're forced to live with a lesbian, yes,' she said, laughing as she prepared a meal at the firehouse. 'And it doesn't rub off.' Those close to her said that Kaemmerer, who retired in 2003, was able to deal with the scrutiny and snide remarks because she was an optimist who saw the best in people. 'She really didn't dwell on that stuff,' said Brenda Berkman, one of the first women in the New York City Fire Department, who met Kaemmerer in the 1990s through their work for Women in the Fire Service, now known as Women in Fire, which supports female firefighters across the world. The suspicion sometimes came from other women. When Kaemmerer joined Women in the Fire Service, some members didn't want her to go with them on a days-long bike trip. Some argued that Kaemmerer was "not a real woman," wondering what bathroom she would use and where she would sleep. "She made clear she would have her own tent," Berkman recalled. "I said to my group, 'We can't be discriminating against Michele — not after all we've fought for to be recognized and treated equally in the fire service. She has to be allowed to come.'" Kaemmerer joined the trip. Born in 1945, Kaemmerer knew from an early age that she identified as a woman but hid it out of fear of being beaten or shamed. She cross-dressed secretly and followed a traditional life path, marrying her high school sweetheart (whom she later divorced), joining the Navy and having two children. "I was very proud of her [when she came out]," said Kaemmerer's daughter, who asked not to be identified for privacy reasons. "It takes incredible courage to do what she did, especially in a particularly macho, male-driven career." When she came out as transgender, Kaemmerer was captain of a small team at the LAFD, with three men working under her. "It was very difficult for them," she said in the PBS interview. Kaemmerer focused on her work. During the 1992 L.A. riots, her fire truck was shot at as she responded to fires, Berkman said. In the PBS interview, Kaemmerer said that some firefighters who knew her before she transitioned still refused to work with her. Some women who shared a locker room with her worried that she might make a sexual advance. Most firefighters sleep in the same room, but Kaemmerer sometimes didn't, so others would feel comfortable. "Sometimes I will get my bedding and I will put it on the floor in the workout room or the weight room and sleep in there," she said in the PBS interview. As she was talking to PBS about her experience as a transgender woman in the fire department, the bell sounded. "That's an alarm coming in," she said, standing up and walking out of the interview. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
