A specialized Israeli delegation has landed in Thailand to join multinational relief efforts following a devastating earthquake last week which has claimed more than 2,000 lives across Myanmar and neighboring countries.

Led by Col. (res.) Yossi Pinto, commander of the IDF’s reserve national search and rescue unit, the 22-member team includes military engineers, medical professionals, and disaster response experts. Upon arrival in Bangkok on Sunday, they immediately began coordinating with Thai authorities to assess damage and prioritize rescue operations.

Friday’s powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake originated in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region near Mandalay, home to 1.5 million people and numerous historic sites. Widespread destruction has left nearly 1,700 houses, 670 monasteries, and 60 schools damaged across Myanmar. Collapsed bridges have isolated communities near the epicenter, while damaged communication infrastructure complicates coordination efforts.

“There’s now just a small window of opportunity left to reach those people trapped under the rubble,” warned Marie Manrique from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Meanwhile in Bangkok, rescue teams continue searching for approximately 80 people missing after an under-construction high-rise collapsed. Families maintain vigil at the site, desperately awaiting news. Based on early modeling, the United States Geological Survey estimates that the quake’s regional final death toll could surpass 10,000 people.

Beyond Israel, several countries have mobilized response teams. Chinese rescue specialists were first to arrive Saturday, with Beijing pledging $13.8 million in humanitarian assistance. Russian teams quickly followed, bringing dog units, anesthesiologists, and psychologists. The UK, Ireland, and Australia collectively committed over $20 million, while India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong have also pledged help. UN officials announced on Sunday a $5 million aid package while mobilizing disaster response teams, and President Donald Trump has promised American assistance.

However, relief efforts face extraordinary challenges beyond the earthquake damage itself. Myanmar’s ongoing civil war has already devastated healthcare systems and displaced over 3 million people since a 2021 military coup.

“My real worry is that the international community will not respond in the scale that is needed,” Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group tells CNN, noting that those already displaced had been receiving “only a fraction” of necessary aid before the earthquake struck.