Hanoi (VNA) – Myanmar’s military government leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, announced that the government will allocate 500 billion MMK (nearly 240 million USD) for earthquake relief and recovery efforts.
This announcement came during a donation ceremony on April 1 in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where philanthropists contributed 104.44 billion MMK (49.71 million USD) in cash and goods worth 12.4 billion MMK (5.9 million USD).
Following the devastating earthquake on March 28, General Hlaing called for international aid. Rescue teams and medical personnel from 16 countries and regions have arrived in Myanmar with humanitarian aid and medical supplies. As of April 2, the death toll from the earthquake had risen to nearly 2,900, with over 4,600 injured and more than 370 still missing.
This earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8, is the second strongest in Myanmar’s history, following the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in 1912. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared it a level-one emergency and has called for urgent funding of 8 million USD to assist in saving lives and preventing disease outbreaks in the coming 30 days.
In Thailand, on April 2, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited families of victims from the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak, Bangkok, caused by Myanmar earthquake tremors. The collapse left 72 workers missing.
She offered condolences and support, spending 15 minutes with the families in a temporary shelter. As of April 1, rescue teams had recovered 13 bodies, with ongoing efforts to lift debris using cranes./.
