A building collapse during demolition work in Mandalay’s Chan Aye Thar Zan Township has resulted in one death and one injury, according to an official from the Myanmar Social Rescue Organization (Mandalay Region Committee). The incident occurred at the corner of 26th Street and 60th Street, where a four-story building damaged by previous earthquakes was being demolished. The collapse happened around 5:50 PM on May 31, claiming the life of an 18-year-old man and injuring a man in his forties. The building was already structurally compromised due to earthquake damage and collapsed further during the demolition process.
Elaborating on the incident, the official from the Myanmar Social Rescue Organization explained that both victims were workers involved in the demolition work when the structure gave way. The official noted that recent rainfall may have contributed to the collapse, and similar incidents have become increasingly common during the demolition of earthquake-damaged buildings in the area. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by demolition workers dealing with unstable structures throughout the city.
Just a day earlier, on May 30 at around 1 PM, another incident occurred in Chan Aye Thar Zan Township between 86th and 87th streets on 26th Street, where two men suffered non-life-threatening injuries when a concrete slab collapsed during the demolition of another earthquake-damaged building. The situation in Mandalay has become particularly concerning as there are approximately 4,000 earthquake-damaged buildings throughout the city. Due to a lack of proper machinery and financial resources, many of these dangerous structures are being demolished through self-help initiatives, which poses significant risks to workers and nearby residents. The absence of proper equipment and professional expertise has forced communities to undertake these hazardous demolition projects on their own, leading to an increased risk of accidents and injuries.
