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Strong quake in Myanmar kills more than 60
YANGON, Myanmar A strong earthquake that toppled homes in northeastern Myanmar has killed more than 60 people, and there were fears Friday the toll would mount as conditions in more remote areas became known.
The Thursday night quake, measured at a magnitude 6.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey, was centered just north of the town Tachileik in the mountains along the Thai border, but was felt hundreds of miles (kilometers) away in the Thai capital Bangkok and Vietnamese capital Hanoi.
Myanmar state radio announced Friday that 65 people had been killed and 111 injured in the quake, but was updating the total frequently. It said that 244 houses, 14 Buddhist monasteries and nine government buildings were damaged.
Most of rural Myanmar, one of Asia's poorest countries, is underdeveloped, with poor communications and other infrastructure, and minimal rescue and relief capacity. The country's military government is also usually reluctant to release information about disasters because it is already sensitive to any criticism.
The government tightly controls information, and in 2008 delayed reporting on and asking for help with devastating Cyclone Nargis, which killed 130,000 people. The junta was widely criticized for what were called inadequate preparations and a slow response to the disaster.
As a precaution for aftershocks, a relief center was being set up Friday in Mae Sai.
"We are worried that the area might be hit with stronger quakes. There was another quake at 7 a.m. this morning," said Somsri Meethong of the Mae Sai District office, referring to an aftershock. "I had to run again like last night. What we have seen on TV about Japan added to our fear."
Strong quake in Myanmar kills more than 60 - Yahoo! News
YANGON, Myanmar A strong earthquake that toppled homes in northeastern Myanmar has killed more than 60 people, and there were fears Friday the toll would mount as conditions in more remote areas became known.
The Thursday night quake, measured at a magnitude 6.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey, was centered just north of the town Tachileik in the mountains along the Thai border, but was felt hundreds of miles (kilometers) away in the Thai capital Bangkok and Vietnamese capital Hanoi.
Myanmar state radio announced Friday that 65 people had been killed and 111 injured in the quake, but was updating the total frequently. It said that 244 houses, 14 Buddhist monasteries and nine government buildings were damaged.
Most of rural Myanmar, one of Asia's poorest countries, is underdeveloped, with poor communications and other infrastructure, and minimal rescue and relief capacity. The country's military government is also usually reluctant to release information about disasters because it is already sensitive to any criticism.
The government tightly controls information, and in 2008 delayed reporting on and asking for help with devastating Cyclone Nargis, which killed 130,000 people. The junta was widely criticized for what were called inadequate preparations and a slow response to the disaster.
As a precaution for aftershocks, a relief center was being set up Friday in Mae Sai.
"We are worried that the area might be hit with stronger quakes. There was another quake at 7 a.m. this morning," said Somsri Meethong of the Mae Sai District office, referring to an aftershock. "I had to run again like last night. What we have seen on TV about Japan added to our fear."
Strong quake in Myanmar kills more than 60 - Yahoo! News
