Mandalay: One Taiwanese woman remains trapped in a collapsed hotel in Mandalay while her husband has been rescued following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday afternoon, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

According to Focus Taiwan, three Taiwanese individuals have been reported to be affected by the disaster. In a statement released on Saturday, MOFA indicated that it is closely monitoring developments concerning the woman trapped in the Mandalay hotel. Despite her predicament, she has maintained communication with the outside world amid ongoing rescue operations. Her husband, who was with her during the earthquake, has been successfully rescued and sustained only minor injuries.

Another Taiwanese woman, previously thought to be missing in a separate collapsed building in Mandalay, has been contacted and confirmed safe, MOFA reported. In response to the earthquake, MOFA has elevated its travel alert for Myanmar to the second-highest "orange" level, advising Taiwanese citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to the country due to rising safety concerns. MOFA's travel warning system is a four-tier scale, ranging from red, the most severe, to gray.

Myanmar has reached out for international assistance as the death toll surpasses 1,000 people. However, many countries, including Taiwan, have not received formal requests for aid. Reports suggest that China and India have dispatched rescue teams and essential supplies to Myanmar, but the global response remains limited. Historically, Myanmar's military junta has been hesitant to accept international aid following disasters.

Taiwan's representative offices in Myanmar and Thailand, where a building under construction also collapsed, have informed both governments that Taiwanese rescue teams are ready to deploy at any time to support disaster relief efforts. According to MOFA, both Myanmar and Thailand are still evaluating their current conditions, infrastructure, and logistical needs before responding to Taiwan's offer.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's National Fire Agency announced in a separate release that over 100 rescue personnel, including medical professionals and six rescue dogs, are on 24-hour standby and can be dispatched immediately if needed.