Analysts of the American Institute of Geological Studies (USGS) estimate that the death toll in Myanmar may exceed 10,000.
International aid began today to arrive in Myanmar, where rescue crews are fighting with time to identify survivors in the ruins of buildings.
The buildings collapsed by the strong earthquake magnitude 7.7 degrees that shocked Friday Southeast Asia.
700 dead in Myanmar
According to a new report released by the Junta of Myanmar, at least 1002 people were killed in parallel, the injured are estimated at 2,376 and the missing at 30. Previous report reported 700 dead, but fears of thousands of victims had been expressed from the first moment.
Analysts from the US Institute of Geological Studies (USGS) estimate that the death toll in Myanmar may exceed 10,000 and that the cost of repairing losses will exceed the country’s GDP.
The biggest blow is Mandalei – the second largest city in Myanmar – and other areas near the focus of the earthquake, which has been the strongest in the country for more than a century.
Group 37 rescuers from China arrived at the early morning in Yangon (former capital of Myanmar), transferring advanced equipment and medicines, according to the Chinese Embassy in a post on Facebook.
Russia has announced that it has sent 120 experienced rescuers with specially trained dogs, as well as doctors to care for injuries, the TASS news agency reported.
US President Donald Trump has known that he has contacted Myanmar officials, assuring Washington would provide help, but without any further clarification.
India sent an aircraft with humanitarian aid to Myanmar, as its foreign minister announced today, the day after the strong earthquake that hit a country already ravaged by civil war.
Junta’s leader in Myanmar Min Aung Hlating had appealed to international aid yesterday, Friday, inviting “every country, every organization” to come and provide aid to Myanmar, where the earthquake has caused the deaths of at least 694 people and the injury.
The fact that the military power, isolated after the February 2021 coup, called for help from abroad causes fears of large -scale disaster.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrachmaniam Jaisankar announced today that a C-130 transfer aircraft took off to Myanmar carrying hygiene, blankets, food and other essentials.
“A search and rescue team as well as a medical team also accompany this flight,” he said. “We will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation,” he said, promising additional help.
Amnesty International commented that the disaster could not happen at a worse time for Myanmar. After overthrowing the elected Nobel Prize -winning government of Aung San Chi in 2021, the army is trying to enforce his power, leaving the economy and basic services, such as healthcare, under disintegration. Armed minority groups and resistance organizations have occupied border areas, expelring the forces that are adhered to in the junta. Due to conflict more than 3 million people have been displaced and more than 1/3 of the population needs humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.
Myanmar has also been affected by natural disasters and the internationally isolated junta finds it difficult to cope adequately. In a rare appeal to the international community, junta leader Mini Aung Ling has called on “every country” to provide humanitarian aid or financially enhance the efforts of earthquakes.
The 7.7 -magnitude earthquake and the strong aftershocks that followed scattered terror within a radius of 1,000 kilometers. In the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, rescuers were looking for survivors all night in the ruins of a 33 -storey 33 -flood -erection, crushed by dozens of workers. The Thai authorities say nine people have been found dead and about 100 are missing. More than 400 Bangkok residents camped in city parks, fearing to spend the night in their homes.
Japan Prime Minister expresses his condolences
Japanese Prime Minister Sigerou Isiba expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the strong earthquake that hit Myanmar Friday and neighboring Thailand, his office said today.
“I was deeply saddened to be informed about the extensive damage caused by the earthquake in the central part of Myanmar. I express my sincere condolences to all those affected, “the Japan prime minister said in his statement. “I sincerely pray for the quick recovery of the injured and the rapid rehabilitation of the affected areas. We stand by the people of Myanmar (…) in these difficult times, “he adds. At the same time, he expressed “deep condolences” to the loss of lives in Thailand because of the strong earthquake.
Lekkas: The number of dead may be 50,000 to 100,000
“We had to do with a big earthquake. An earthquake of 7.7 degrees, in a small focal depth. These are the two main factors that have contributed to such great disasters to such an extensive extent, “the professor initially said, and continued:” The aesthetics of the earthquake is very great, as we are dealing with the direction of seismic waves. That is, we have a rift that has an approximate north – south and seismic waves – because this rift is horizontal sloping – are directed either to the north, that is, to China or to the south, that is, in Thailand. “
He explained that the area is recorded in the area, but in the area where the earthquake occurred, there are two plates. “We are dealing with two plates, the Eurasian, which is one of our own plate, Europe and Asia, which moves horizontally with the North -South Address, alongside the Indian Plaka,” he pointed out and added: “We have two great plates. We are at the limit of essentially two large tectonic plates characterized by high seismicity. And the area is also characterized by high seismicity not only in the area, but also the others that are north and south. “
In closing, Efthimios Lekkas expressed a nightmare appreciation for the dead. “According to the calculations we do, the death toll may be 50,000 to 100,000. There is a 30% chance of having 50,000 to 100,000. Taking into account geological – geodynamic criteria, structured tissue buildings and the conditions in the area but also according to data collected by American colleagues and some images we have seen really confirm this assessment, “he said and continued:
“This assessment may be real, but we will not know it, since the information that is being channeled abroad is very few.”
Source: iefimerida.gr