Myanmar hit by 66 aftershocks following deadly earthquake
Myanmar hit by 66 aftershocks following deadly earthquake
As of Thursday morning, Myanmar has experienced 66 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2.8 to 7.5, according to the country's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology
YANGON — As of Thursday morning, Myanmar has experienced 66 aftershocks
ranging from magnitudes 2.8 to 7.5, according to the country's Department of
Meteorology and Hydrology.
These aftershocks followed a devastating 7.7-magnitude
temblor that struck the country last Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Meanwhile, the State Administration Council (SAC)
Chairman, Min Aung Hlaing, said that Myanmar's government will allocate 500
billion kyats (about $238.09 million) for earthquake relief and rehabilitation
efforts.
The Myanmar leader made the statement at a cash donation
ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, where well-wishers donated 104.44 billion
kyats ($49.71 million) in cash and non-cash items worth 12.4 billion kyats
($5.9 million), state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported.
The contributions were received by the Chairman of the
National Disaster Management Committee, the SAC Vice Chairman, council members,
and other relevant officials, it added.
Following the deadly earthquake that struck Myanmar on
Friday, Min Aung Hlaing called for international assistance. In response,
rescue teams, medics and nurses from 16 countries and regions have arrived in Myanmar
with humanitarian aid and medical supplies as of March 31, it said.
Among the 18 powerful earthquakes that have struck
Myanmar, the 7.7-magnitude quake was the second strongest, following an
8.0-magnitude temblor that hit the country in 1912, according to the local
daily Myanma Alinn.
The death toll from Friday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake in
Myanmar has risen to 3,085, with 4,715 injured and 341 still missing, according
to the State Administration Council information team on Wednesday.
Myo Nyunt, President of the Myanmar Red Cross Society,
told Xinhua earlier that key challenges in the current rescue operations
included disaster assessment and logistics coordination.
Due to safety concerns in the affected areas, rescue
teams have faced significant difficulties in distributing supplies, with a
particular shortage of heavy machinery, Myo Nyunt said.
The powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 6.4
magnitude aftershock minutes later, struck Myanmar’s Mandalay region on Friday,
causing massive casualties and damage.
Myanmar announced on Monday a week-long mourning period
following the earthquake that struck the nation and wrought widespread
destruction.
The United Nations and international aid organisations
are struggling to respond to the devastating earthquake, which destroyed
several cities such as Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw, and displaced tens of
thousands of people. The hospitals are trying to cope with the high influx of
patients.
However, the United Nations, the US, India, the European
Union, several other nations and international organisations have sent aid and
rescue teams for earthquake victims in Myanmar.
The Indian Army and Navy mobilised their resources,
providing both immediate rescue support and long-term aid to the affected
communities.
