Thu Apr 03 10:00:51 UTC 2025: ## Myanmar Earthquake Survivor Pulled Alive After Five Days Trapped Under Hotel

**Sagaing, Myanmar** – A Myanmar school headmaster, Tin Maung Htwe, 47, has miraculously survived five days trapped under the rubble of his collapsed hotel following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake. He was pulled from the debris on Wednesday by a Malaysian rescue team, a feat that stunned rescuers who initially believed no one could have survived in the severely damaged building.

Mr. Htwe, who was attending a training course in Sagaing, near the earthquake’s epicentre, credits his survival to a childhood lesson on earthquake safety – sheltering under a bed – and the consumption of his own urine to stay hydrated. His hotel in Sagaing was reduced to a pile of rubble, with the top floor collapsing onto the lower levels.

“I felt as though I was in hell,” Mr. Htwe said weakly from his hospital bed, still receiving oxygen and intravenous fluids. He described the intense heat and desperate thirst, resorting to drinking his own urine to survive.

The extent of the destruction in Sagaing is far greater than in nearby Mandalay, with many buildings completely flattened. The devastation has hampered rescue efforts, including damage to the Ava bridge connecting the two cities. Rescuers from the Myanmar Red Cross initially believed they would only recover bodies from the site.

Mr. Htwe’s sister, Nan Yone, expressed overwhelming joy at his rescue, describing her emotions as a mix of dancing, crying, and chest-beating relief. Upon arrival at the hospital, Mr. Htwe gave her a thumbs-up, stating, “Sister, I am very good.” His sister attributes his survival to his strong will.

Currently recovering in the Sagaing hospital, where patients are being treated outdoors due to fears of aftershocks, Mr. Htwe expressed gratitude for his survival, stating, “I am glad I am free now. 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 intends to return to his teaching profession, though he is also considering becoming a Buddhist monk.

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