Quake kills 13 as residents in Mandalay sleep in the open fearing new tremors
Mandalay (AsiaNews) - The death toll from yesterday's earthquake in central Myanmar has reached 13. Rescue teams have begun providing aid to the residents but some of the more remote villages remain isolated. The collapse of a bridge under construction and the partial cave-in of a mine have contributed to the number of death. Sources told AsiaNews that at least 150 people have been injured.
A close-circuit camera in a government building in Mandalay (see here) captured the moment when the main quake struck. Several aftershocks created panic among residents.
In Mandalay, the country's second largest city, many people chose to sleep in the open air fearing building collapse.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit first at 07:42 local time at a depth of 10 kilometres, some 120 kilometres north of Mandalay, 52 kilometres northeast of the town of Shwebo, in an area that is underdeveloped but with several gemstone mines.
Four labourers plunged into the Irrawaddy River near Sint Ku when the steel structure of a large, partially built bridge collapsed.
Burma's state television showed Vice President Sai Maul Hkam visiting the town of Thabeikyin, near the epicentre, to see the damage in person.
"Three or four big government helicopters" flew in the direction of the quake zone, a resident in Mandalay told AsiaNews. "This shows that the authorities intend to move as quickly and as best they can."
For now however, there are communication problems with the interior and the more remote areas.
Earthquakes are not uncommon in Myanmar. Yesterday's event was the strongest since 1991.
In March of last year, more than 70 people were killed when a powerful quake hit the country near the borders with Thailand and Laos.
The authorities responded with speed in contrast to the handling of natural disasters by the previous military junta. In the case of cyclone Nargis in 2008, the authorities tried to hide the event from the international community.
According to some eyewitness accounts gathered by AsiaNews in Mandalay, many people spent the night in the streets "for fear of the quake and more tremors."
A rescue volunteer said that many homes, Buddhist temples and schools had been damaged and that "at least 13 people had died." The official toll however is still at six.
"Catholic and youth groups are among the organisations involved in the aid work," one Catholic said.
"However, tents and basic items are in short supply because much of them have gone to Rakhine State, scene for months of sectarian strife between the Buddhist majority and the Rohingya Muslim minority.
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