[Buddha-l] Burmese eathquake - deaths, injuries, Buddhist monasteries damaged

[Dan Lusthaus]

Strong quake in Burma kills more than 70

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Friday, March 25, 5:31 AM

YANGON, Burma - A strong earthquake that toppled homes in northeastern Burma 
has killed more than 70 people, and there were fears Friday the toll would 
mount as conditions in more remote areas became known.

The Thursday night quake, measured at a magnitude 6.8 by the U.S. Geological 
Survey, was centered just north of the town Tachileik in the mountains along 
the Thai border. It was felt hundreds of miles away in the Thai capital 
Bangkok and Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

Burma state radio announced Friday that 74 people had been killed and 111 
injured in the quake, but was updating the total frequently. It said that 
390 houses, 14 Buddhist monasteries and nine government buildings were 
damaged.

[...]

Most of rural Burma, also known as Myanmar, is underdeveloped, with poor 
communications and other infrastructure, and minimal rescue and relief 
capacity. The country's military government is also usually reluctant to 
release information about disasters because it is already sensitive to any 
criticism.

The government tightly controls information, and in 2008 delayed reporting 
on - and asking for help with - devastating Cyclone Nargis, which killed 
130,000 people. The junta was widely criticized for what were called 
inadequate preparations and a slow response to the disaster.

Somchai Hatayatanti, the governor of 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 55 miles from the 
epicenter, including a provincial hospital and city hall. The tops of the 
spires fell off from at least two Buddhist temples.

[...]

The rest at
http://tinyurl.com/6x9f5ru

Dan