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Latest update: 25/03/2011
- Burma - earthquakes - Laos - Thailand
Deadly quake hits Burma, rattles Laos and Thailand
At least 63 people died after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Burma (Myanmar) on Thursday, with aftershocks reverberating in neighbouring Thailand and Laos, causing widespread panic but limited damage.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - At least 63 people were killed in a strong earthquake that struck Myanmar, state media said on Friday, while a series of aftershocks have caused panic but only limited damage from Thailand to Laos.
The death toll from Thursday's 6.8 magnitude tremor was expected to rise slightly in Myanmar after more than 100 buildings were destroyed. Over 100 people were injured, according to state television.
The quake sparked panic, but no major damage, in other countries across Southeast Asia. This month's devastating Japan quake and tsunami have revived memories of the even more powerful 2004 Indonesia quake and tsunami which killed around 226,000 people.
An aftershock, an estimated magnitude of 5.5, rattled Thailand on Friday but caused limited damage, although residents living close to the epicentre were advised to leave their homes.
The initial quake shook the famous "Golden Triangle" region, where Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet. It was felt in the capital cities of Thailand and Myanmar and as far away as Vietnam, where people in tall buildings were evacuated.
It was 6.2 miles (10 km) below the surface but caused only slight damage on the Thai side
The town of Tachilek in Myanmar was badly hit by Thursday's quake. People fled their homes and cracks were seen in the roads.
"We were extremely frightened to enter the house since there were several strong aftershocks," a teacher said by telephone. "Some people are haunted by what they saw on TV about the recent earthquake in Japan."
The Red Cross said a hospital in Tachilek had been damaged and trained local volunteers had been mobilised to provide relief and first aid.
Fears of aftershocks
Thursday's quake was centred 111 km (69 miles) north of Chiang Rai, Thailand's northernmost province and a sparsely populated, hilly area. It forms part of the Golden Triangle, a popular tourist destination and famous for the cultivation of illicit opium.
In Chiang Rai's main town, little damage was seen. The spires of several Buddhist pagodas were bent, some tiles were smashed and a few cracks were seen on the ground close to a hotel.
Fearing more aftershocks, people in the province's Mae Sai district, 60 km from the epicentre, had left their houses and were seen setting up makeshift shelters in open spaces.
Somchai Hatyatanti, Chiang Rai provincial governor, said cracks were seen in some buildings. Power was briefly knocked out and some telephone lines were down.
Bountheun Menevilay, head of the disaster preparedness division of the Red Cross in neighbouring Laos, said the quake was felt strongly in the thinly populated border provinces of Luang Namtha and Bokeo, but no deaths or injuries were reported.
Vibul Sguanpong, director general of Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said there had been dozens of aftershocks.
"We urge those in very old houses or tall, old buildings near the northern border with Myanmar to check for cracks and other signs of damage, and consider leaving for the next two days while aftershocks are likely," he said.
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Comments (1)
Earthquakes
well 6.8 which I knew would strike burma and Thailand after shocks are the worse. but there is a 10. 3 quake to come I'm just praying it dont hit Japan with the trouble they are having with the reactors thousands of people will die as this problem will get worse as the days go by. I feel the big one coming very soon but it's the Tsunami are the killers of the planet .I did say before this planet has been going for million or so now and the last people which goes back a thousand years found that if the tree's are planted around the planet it would stop the very high winds and that it would break down as it traveled around the globe which was sucessful until they were chopped down for greed and now no one can put it right unless they got tree's that will grow to a thousand years in a year would help but you got no chance of that. the Earth core is damaged and that will cause problems their the sea level will get warmer and the ice caps will melt faster than before. and will be no where to run. A Gibson
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