Myanmar has been in a spiral of economic crisis and conflict since the revolt, with combat in much of the country between military and civilians and pro-democracy guerrillas, aggravating the access and distribution of humanitarian aid
More than 2,600 buildings were destroyed by the 7.7-degree magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on Friday, killing more than 1,000 people, according to the Military Junta in power in this Asian Southwest country.
“More than 2,600 buildings, including houses, churches, schools and pagodas, have collapsed,” says a brief statement issued by the Military Junta, through the National Radio and Television Service (MRTV).
The military regime, which has the power in Myanmar (former Burma) since the 2021 coup, reported hours before the earth’s earthquake, which hit the country’s center (formerly Burma), had caused a total of 1,002 dead, 2,376 injured and 30 missing, according to the first counts made after visiting some devastated areas.
The earthquake occurred at 12:50 local (6:20 of Lisbon) on Friday, at a depth of 10 kilometers, with the epicenter about 17 kilometers from Mandalay (the second largest city in Burma, with 1.2 million inhabitants), and about 270 kilometers from the capital, according to the United States Geological Service (USGS).
The military government declared the state of emergency in six zones: Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Shan, Naipyido and Bago.
Myanmar has been in a spiral of economic crisis and conflict since the revolt, with combat in much of the country between military and civilian and pro-democracy guerrillas, aggravating the access and distribution of humanitarian aid.
On Friday, the military junta made an unusual appeal to international aid after declaring the state of emergency.
The United Nations rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, warned that the Military Junta is using military aid as a “weapon” and called on to the international community to channel it through democratic opposition, led by the self -enhanced government of national unity, and the ethnic groups that oppose the army.
China has announced today that it will support Myanmar with 100 million yuans (about 13 million euros), by sending teams, materials and food, after the earthquake that hit the country from Southwest Asia.
The strong earthquake was also felt in neighboring countries such as China, India and Thailand, in whose capital, Bangkok, collapsed a tower of office under construction, under which dozens of people are trapped.
