NAY PYI TAW March 28
Esteemed people,
As you are aware, an earthquake struck the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region and some other areas at 12.51 pm today.
According to information, the epicenter, with a depth of 10 kilometers, was at a place 20 kilometers northeast of Mandalay.
It was a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by aftershocks. The jolt caused a lot of damage in Mandalay, Sagaing and Nay Pyi Taw, and up to now, 96 persons died in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, 18, in Sagaing, and 30, in Kyaukse, totalling 144 and the number of injured persons was 432 in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, 300 in Sagaing, totalling 732, while it is still under verification in Kyaukse.
The number of casualties is likely to increase. In some places, buildings collapsed and ongoing rescue operations are underway.
I have already visited the quake-hit areas, and would like to request the people to lend a helping hand in rescue operations to the most possible degree as we are going to broaden their scope.
I have already declared a state of emergency in all the places where the disaster struck and opened every door for external assistance. Recently, I have approved the offers from AHA Center and India to send emergency relief aid tomorrow. I invite every country and organization and every person in Myanmar including those from religious orders to join hands in providing assistance.
Thank you.
