I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
- An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale and 10 km depth struck the Eastern State of Shan in Myanmar at 20:29:30 hrs Myanmar Standard Time (01:55:12 PM UTC) on 24 March 2011. Since the earthquake and as of Sunday 27 March evening, a total of eight aftershocks have been reported from affected areas. The risk of landslides remains high.
- The latest official number of casualties currently stands at 74 deaths and 125 injuries. According to the Relief and Resettlement Department the number of damaged houses has increased from 224 to 305, including a number of Government buildings. Thirty-one (31) religious buildings have been damaged as well as eleven (11) schools. One 16-bed rural hospital in Tarlay was damaged.
- The damaged Tarlay Bridge, connecting Tachileik and Tarlay, has been temporarily repaired, enabling the re-opening of the road from Tachileik to Tarlay in the evening of 26 March. However, it is observed that the Bridge may not in a condition adequate for traffic by heavy trucks. Only light trucks, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians are advised to cross the Bridge. Access from Kengtung remains possible.
- The Government has announced it would share a comprehensive assessment of the situation by Monday 28 March. The coordination with the local authorities is reportedly efficient.
- The Tarlay Sub-Towhship Relief Committee, established by the Government, has estimated the damage of the earthquake at approximately 3 billion Kyats (approximately USD 3.6 million).