Myanmar's deadliest natural disaster in years has strengthened the position of ruling general, Min Aung Hlaing, by opening diplomatic channels closed for four years after his junta ousted an elected government to unleash a brutal civil war.

Rescuers pulled two men alive from the ruins of a hotel in Myanmar's capital early Wednesday, but most teams were finding only bodies five days after a massive earthquake hit, and concerns were growing that continued military attacks on resistance forces could jeopardize relief efforts.

A 63-year-old woman was pulled alive from under the rubble Tuesday about 91 hours after Myanmar was struck by a devastating, 7.7 magnitude earthquake, the Myanmar Fire Services Department said on social media.

It was unclear whether the cease-fire would be honored. It came a day after soldiers fired at a Chinese Red Cross aid convoy, and amid multiple airstrikes.

With thousands injured and infrastructure crippled following Friday's quake of magnitude 7.7, regional authorities were struggling to cope and desperately needed support.

Rescue crews in Myanmar were grappling with a mammoth clear-up operation on Wednesday, five days after a powerful earthquake slammed the southeast Asian country, toppling buildings and killing thousands.