Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) found a man in his 40s in a state of shock in a residential area in the central Sagaing region of Myanmar – which was the epicentre of the earthquake.

The man was successfully rescued at 2.27pm today with the assistance of local firefighters and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

“This is a miracle because the victim had been trapped under the rubble for more than 72 hours,” he said in a statement.

“The government will continue to closely monitor the situation and the National Disaster Management Agency and other related agencies will ensure that all necessary aid is delivered smoothly and effectively,” he added.

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, with Sagaing among the worst-affected areas.

Previously, Bernama reported that Smart had recovered six bodies, three of them women, from under the rubble.

It was reported on Sunday that 50 Smart members will be in Myanmar for seven to 14 days. They will focus on locating victims trapped in places of worship and a school affected by the disaster.