The person mourning 170 family members

[ad_1] Zeyar Htun and Tessa Wong BBC Burmese and BBC Information

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/84c3/live/c2a9baf0-0edd-11f0-991b-c5d1a973d814.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC / Neha Sharma Soe Nay Oo gazes worriedly into the distance in his bedroom, wearing a white imam's cap and uniform, and black-framed glasses. In the background you can see his bed and T-shirts handing on the wall." class="sc-a34861b-0 efFcac"/> BBC / Neha Sharma Soe Nay Oo was an imam in Myanmar however had been working for a human rights group in Thailand after fleeing the 2021 coup

As the decision to prayer rang out in Sagaing final Friday, a whole lot of Muslims hurried to the 5 mosques in central Myanmar.

They had been keen to carry their final Friday prayers for Ramadan, simply days away from the festive interval of Eid that will mark the top of the holy month.

Then, at 12:51 native time (06:21 GMT), a lethal earthquake struck. Three mosques collapsed, together with the largest one, Myoma, killing virtually everybody inside.

Tons of of kilometres away, the previous imam of Myoma mosque, Soe Nay Oo, felt the quake within the Thai border city of Mae Sot.

Within the following days, he discovered that round 170 of his kinfolk, buddies and members of his former congregation had died, principally within the mosques. Some had been main figures within the metropolis's close-knit Muslim group.

"I take into consideration all of the individuals who misplaced their lives, and the victims' youngsters - a few of them are younger youngsters," he advised the BBC. "I am unable to maintain again my tears once I speak about this."

Greater than 2,700 individuals have died within the quake which occurred close to Sagaing and Mandalay, Myanmar's second metropolis. The loss of life toll is predicted to rise as rescuers proceed to drag out our bodies from rubble.

Whereas the realm was recognized for its historic Buddhist temples, the cities had been additionally dwelling to a big Muslim inhabitants.

An estimated 500 Muslims died whereas praying of their mosques, based on figures given by the nation's chief, Min Aung Hlaing, on Monday.

Eyewitnesses in Sagaing have advised the BBC that the highway the place the mosques had been, Myoma Road, was the worst hit within the metropolis. Many different homes on the road have additionally collapsed.

Tons of of individuals have sought shelter by the aspect of the highway, both as a result of they're now homeless, or are too afraid to return to their houses in case there are aftershocks. Meals provides are reported to be scarce.

In Myoma alone, greater than 60 individuals had been stated to be crushed within the collapse, whereas scores extra died within the Myodaw and Moekya mosques. Extra our bodies had been nonetheless being pulled out on Tuesday.

There are indications that the worshippers had tried to flee, based on Soe Nay Oo, who has acquired a number of reviews from surviving members of his group.

He at the moment lives within the Thai metropolis of Mae Sot together with his spouse and daughter, after escaping from Myanmar quickly after a coup that took place in 2021.

There have been our bodies discovered outdoors of the primary prayer corridor, he stated, within the space the place worshippers wash themselves. Some had been additionally discovered clutching different individuals's fingers, in what regarded like makes an attempt to drag them away from the crumbling constructing.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cf98/live/03f70210-0ee3-11f0-bb66-1953ea6c7fa4.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AS SUPPLIED TO SOE NAY OO A young boy picks through the rubble of Myoma mosque. Only a blue and yellow wall is still standing. Broken concrete, steel wires and a metal roofing fill the compound and has fallen to the ground as well." class="sc-a34861b-0 efFcac"/> AS SUPPLIED TO SOE NAY OO Photos despatched to Soe Nay Oo present the Myoma mosque in full ruins

Among the many many family members Soe Nay Oo misplaced was one in every of his spouse's cousins. Her loss of life, he stated, was "essentially the most painful factor that I've endured" in his 13 years as an imam.

"She was the one who confirmed her like to us essentially the most," stated Soe Nay Oo. "Everybody within the household liked her. The loss is insufferable for us."

One other of his spouse's cousins, a well-respected businessman who had carried out the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, additionally died.

"He all the time referred to as me Nyi Lay ['little brother' in Burmese]…After I married my spouse, he stated we're household now and he all the time handled me like his personal little brother," stated Soe Nay Oo.

"He was all the time there for us each time we would have liked him. I've misplaced these whom I really like like brothers like him."

A few of the shut buddies who died embody Soe Nay Oo's former assistant imam, whom he remembered for his robust work ethic and memorable expertise in reciting the Quran.

The principal of the native public college, who was additionally the one feminine trustee of the Myoma mosque, additionally died. She was remembered by Soe Nay Oo as a beneficiant soul who would usually pay for mosque programmes out of her personal pocket.

He stated each time he hears of yet one more individual from the group who died, he experiences a brand new wave of grief. "I really feel devastated… it all the time involves my thoughts, the reminiscences I cherish of them.

"Regardless that they weren't shut kinfolk, they had been those who all the time welcomed me, adopted my prayers, and who prayed collectively."

The truth that they died throughout Ramadan isn't misplaced on him. "All of the departed have returned to Allah's dwelling, I might say. They are going to be remembered as martyrs accordingly," he stated.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2393/live/d611fbf0-0ef3-11f0-9471-fd068d782b6b.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters People stand by a collapsed fire station after a strong earthquake, near its epicenter, in Sagaing" class="sc-a34861b-0 efFcac"/> Reuters Different buildings in Sagaing, together with this hearth station, have additionally collapsed

Like different components of Myanmar affected by the quake, the group is struggling to cope with the sheer variety of our bodies.

It has been difficult by ongoing preventing between the army junta and resistance teams. The Muslim cemetery in Sagaing is near an space managed by the insurgent Folks's Defence Forces (PDF), and has been closed to the general public for a number of years. The army has continued to bomb some components of the broader Sagaing area following the quake.

Sagaing metropolis's Muslim group has needed to transfer the our bodies of their lifeless to Mandalay, crossing the Irrawaddy River utilizing the only real bridge connecting the 2 cities, based on Soe Nay Oo.

Their our bodies are being left at Mandalay's greatest mosque for burial. Some haven't been buried inside 24 hours of their loss of life per Islamic custom.

"For Muslims, it's the saddest factor, that we can't bury our households by ourselves on the finish of their journey," he stated.

The survivors have been attempting to assist in the rescue, at the same time as they deal with the trauma. "Some from my group advised me to wish for them. To be sincere, they could not even describe their loss in phrases once I communicate to them."

It's exhausting for Soe Nay Oo to be removed from his former congregation. Like many other people from Myanmar who have migrated abroad , he feels survivor's guilt.

"If I had been the imam nonetheless, on the time of the quake, I might have gone with them – that I can settle for peacefully. If not, at the very least I could possibly be on the bottom to do something that I can.

"Now I am unable to return. It is painful to consider it.

Soe Nay Oo started to sob. "This unhappy and annoyed feeling I've proper now, I've by no means felt this manner earlier than in my life. I'm the form of man who would hardly cry.

He provides that he has not been capable of sleep for days. His fear has been magnified by the very fact he has but to listen to from some members of the family, together with his personal siblings who had been in Mandalay.

Soe Nay Oo has paused his work for a human rights group in Thailand and is at the moment serving to to coordinate rescue efforts in Sagaing - sharing any data he can get from his contacts within the metropolis.