Thursday, 24th March of 2011, the Myanmar earthquake with a 6.8 magnitude had at least taken 74 lives and left a hundred and eleven people injured. The earthquake’s exact location struck exactly in 20.705°N and 99.949°E—the hills Myanmar bordering Thailand and Laos—with a depth of only 10 kilometers deep.

While aftershocks of the Myanmar earthquake have caused panic, there is only limited damage to its neighbors Thailand and Laos. The quake was also felt in Bangkok, which is 480 miles away south of the epicenter.

Property damages the earthquake in Myanmar include a total of 390 residential houses, 14 monasteries, and 9 government department buildings in the mainly affected Myanmar areas Tarlay, Naryaung, and Monglin. Monglin had contributed 128 to the total digits of the ruined residential houses.

The powerful Myanmar quake sent shock waves to many parts of Thailand. People residing near the dams were worried. The Irrigation Department of Thailand, however, assured the people that the earthquake did not cause any damage to any major dams in the affected area.

The department’s director-general, Chalit Damrongsak, said that the Department had ordered inspections for the dams in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai and founded that all the dams were “undamaged by the quake.”

A woman, however, 55 years of age had died during the quake in Chiang Rai province.

Neighboring Laos did feel the earthquake, but no deaths or injuries were reported.

Recently relief operations were launched extensively in areas of Myanmar affected by the quake. A military medical team is giving first aid to injured people and the Red Cross is giving clothes to wear for children. Authorities are providing food and cash aid in the effort for rehabilitation. Food, drinking water, and tents are scarce and badly needed.

The government’s Natural Disaster Preparedness Council is supervising the relief works in areas affected by the earthquake.

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