Myanmar-Thailand earthquake: Bay Area groups raise money to help victims following 7.7 quake
"The condition right now is really horrible. It's like a disaster zone."
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- In the Bay Area, community groups and businesses are ramping up efforts to help earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand.
Photos show destruction to a home in the city of Mandalay in Myanmar. Bay Area resident Tin Win says this is his cousin's home. It's 30 miles away from the epicenter of the quake. You can see that some walls in the home collapsed, others have substantial cracks.
"Everything fell off. They felt serious shaking during the earthquake," said Win.
"The condition right now is really horrible. It's like a disaster zone," said Jason Hu with the Myanmar Cultural and Community Center. He says earthquake victims desperately need help.
VIDEO: How the Bay Area is stepping up to help Myanmar, Thailand earthquake victims
On Sunday, a fundraiser was held in the East Bay
A band played a song, honoring a beloved homeland which many can't stop thinking about following the massive quake in Myanmar.
"Do you know what, it's really shocking," said Valerie Sheibels.
Sheibels lives in Oakland but grew up near Mandalay. Her cousin took video when the ground shook. He's OK, but she can't reach another cousin who lives in a three-story house that collapsed.
"So hopefully she wasn't on the ground floor at the time, I don't know, I pray to the gods," Sheibels said.
RELATED: Myanmar-Thailand earthquake: Bay Area Burmese restaurant raising funds for disaster relief efforts
Khin Soe says some of her friends didn't survive.
"One was a mom. She passed and left two twins behind. So many tragedies going on right now," Soe said.
It's why the Bay Area's Myanmar community wasted no time putting this fundraiser together in Union City, just days after the earthquake struck.
"The whole community is getting united, helping with the cause of earthquake relief," said Wai Phyo from the Myanmar Community and Cultural Center.
The Myanmar Community and Cultural Center is leading the effort, collecting monetary donations and serving up lots of Burmese food.
RELATED: Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 1,644 as resistance movement announces partial ceasefire
But getting aid to where it's needed is difficult. The military-controlled government is not allowing humanitarian relief agencies in.
"We have contact with grassroots aid organizations to get help in effectively," Phyo said.
But everyone here knows it won't be easy.
"All utility poles collapsed, no electricity, everything in a blackout," Phyo said.
Union City Mayor Gary Singh says his city is ready to help.
MORE: Tsunami warning issued after strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits near island country of Tonga
"There's so much need out there, from medicine to clothes. I'm going to talk with Congressman Swalwell to see if we can help them out anyway we can," Singh said.
This community is sending love and support to those in need, a world away.
In San Francisco, the Thai community is also coming together to try and help earthquake victims.
At Osha Thai Restaurant at the Embarcadero, we met up with Sirapa Buasuk.
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Buasuk's employees all have family in Thailand.
"They showed us some pictures. The crack across the room in the condominium," said Buasuk.
This is a crack from the ceiling down to the door."
Osha Thai restaurant is teaming up with a few sister restaurants and businesses across the region to help earthquake victims in Thailand and Myanmar.
MORE: What to pack in your earthquake emergency kit
They posted about it online.
"A lot of customers come in and ask about it," said Buasuk. "We work with an organization. It's called 'Home Help Healing.' The owner of our restaurant also donated some money. You don't have to send money. Also you can also send your spirit and help with the earthquake in Thailand because people re really desperate."
It's a plea for the Bay Area community to send help -- in any way possible -- to those who need it thousands of miles away.
GoFundMe reached out to ABC7 on Sunday and said it is also raising funds to help the victims.
