TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese tourist has remained trapped for more than 30 hours inside the Great Wall Hotel in Mandalay, Myanmar, following a powerful earthquake on Friday.

Lo Chen-hua (羅振華), secretary-general of the Myanmar Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (MTCC), told CNA the situation in Mandalay is dire, with a severe shortage of search and rescue personnel. Lo is urgently seeking outside assistance to help free the trapped Taiwanese woman.

A magnitude 7.7 shallow earthquake struck northwestern Mandalay on Friday, followed minutes later by a 6.7 aftershock. A Taiwanese couple surnamed Lin (林) were staying at the hotel. The husband managed to escape because he was near the door, but his wife was trapped when the lower floors of the red-brick hotel collapsed, leaving the structure tilted at a 45-degree angle and surrounded by rubble.

Mrs. Lin is believed to be trapped on the ground floor along with hotel staff. On Saturday, her voice was faintly heard over the intercom, raising hopes, though her high blood pressure and the condition of the building have complicated rescue efforts.

The couple had arrived in Mandalay for a vacation just a few days earlier. Now, Mr. Lin waits with only a photo of the two holding hands, hoping for positive news.

Lo said a small excavator had been deployed, and a few rescuers joined the effort overnight in hopes of reaching victims during the critical 72-hour window. However, the following day, the rescue team was redirected to other locations, according to FTV.

While many victims have been rescued, the longer others remain trapped, the more difficult their survival becomes. Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, has suffered widespread destruction, including damage to homes and factories operated by Taiwanese investors.

“For Taiwanese businesspeople in Myanmar, the damage to their factories is quite serious,” said Lo, noting ongoing structural safety inspections.

Damaged roads and transportation networks have further complicated relief efforts. The MTCC is coordinating disaster response supplies, and Tzu Chi Foundation has begun preparing relief materials including blankets, clothing, and dry food.

Daw Thida Khin (李金蘭), head of Tzu Chi Myanmar, said, “Because road conditions and entire highways are damaged, we need to assess the route before we decide where to transport supplies. As supplies arrive, we hope to speed up the rescue operation and provide more resettlement assistance for displaced refugees.”