h An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale and 10 km depth struck the eastern Shan State in Myanmar at 20:29:30 hrs Myanmar Standard Time (01:55:12 PM UTC) on 24 March 2011.
h Six aftershocks have been reported from affected areas. The risk of landslides remains high.
h The official figure of casualties currently stands at 74 deaths and 125 injuries.
h One 16 bedded sub-township hospital in Tarlay was severely damaged. Tarlay Bridge connecting Tachileik was also damaged and temporary repaired.
h The Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is mobilized. The National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee (NDPCC) has deployed its search & rescue and relief teams to the affected areas. Local authorities are providing basic relief assistance to affected households.
h UN and NGOs are mobilizing efforts and have started assessments and response. h
WHO action
o A team from WHO Myanmar has left for Tachileik and near by townships to conduct an initial rapid assessment.
o WCO team have discussed with MoH and have identified the need and in the process of supporting essential medicines.
o WHO SEARO has mobilized and sent following items as requested by the MOH.
X From the Bangkok stockpile
h 100 body bags
h 1 major and 1 minor surgical kit (The supplies received in Yangon on 27.03.2011)
X From the Delhi Stockpile
h 2 Inter-agency health kits (The kits will be sent to Yangon on 29.03.2011)
o WHO as lading agency for UN cluster approach has started health Cluster Coordination with partner agencies.
o Early warning and raid response system (EWARS) has been activated and disease outbreak control measures in place. So far no disease outbreak has been reported.
o After the assessment, the MoH will consider a request to SEARHEF, at this point resources from the WCO will be used fro any immediate needs for local procurements and emergency field operational support.
