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70 dead in Myanmar quake

— PHOTO: AFP

A man examines the rubble of his partially-destroyed house in Myanmar's north-eastern city

YANGON: A powerful earthquake that toppled homes in north-eastern Myanmar has killed more than 70 people, and there were fears on Friday the toll would mount as conditions in more remote areas became known.

The Thursday night quake, measured at magnitude 6.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey, was centred just north of Tachileik town in Shan State near the Thai border. It was felt hundreds of km away in Bangkok and Hanoi. Myanmar state radio announced on Friday that 74 people had been killed and 111 injured, but was updating the total frequently. It said 390 houses, 14 Buddhist monasteries and nine government buildings were damaged.

An official from the U.N.'s World Food Program said there were many casualties and serious damage in Mong Lin village, 8 km from Tachileik. State radio said 29 were killed there and 16 injured.

Most of rural Myanmar is underdeveloped, with poor communications and other infrastructure, and minimal rescue and relief capacity. The junta is reluctant to release information as it is sensitive to any criticism.

Somchai Hatayatanti, governor of Thailand's Chiang Rai province, said dozens of people suffered minor injuries on the Thai side of the border. Cracks were found in buildings in downtown Chiang Rai city, about 90 km from the epicentre, including a provincial hospital and city hall. The tops of spires fell from at least two Buddhist temples.As a precaution for aftershocks, a relief centre was being set up on Friday in Mae Sai. — AP

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