India sends 15 tonnes of relief material as death toll in Myanmar, Thailand earthquake rises to 694

India sent over 15 tonnes of relief material to earthquake-hit Myanmar as the death toll rose to 694 in the disaster that rattled Thailand as well. Over 1,600 people were left injured and the authorities called it the largest earthquake to hit Myanmar in more than a century. Rescue officials are now fearing that the death toll might rise since the country has witnessed 14 aftershocks since the massive quake.

According to ANI, the relief package contains essential supplies, including tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, hygiene kits, solar lamps, generator sets, and critical medicines like paracetamol, antibiotics, syringes, gloves, and bandages.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said that it is closely monitoring the situation. They also mentioned that there were no reports of any Indian getting hurt or killed in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake. “After powerful earthquake tremors recorded in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, the Embassy is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Thai authorities. So far, no untoward incident involving any Indian citizen has been reported. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals in Thailand are advised to contact the emergency number +66 618819218. All members of the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and Consulate in Chiang Mai are safe,” the Indian Embassy in Thailand wrote in a separate statement.

Myanmar reels through the tragedy

At least 14 aftershocks hit Myanmar since Friday. According to the US Geological Survey, most of these tremours happened over several hours shortly after the quake. The seismologists noted that the magnitude of these aftershocks raged between 3 and 5. The strongest was the magnitude 6.7 tremor that struck about 10 minutes after the major quake.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that it is on the ground and its rescue teams are preparing for humanitarian support to the victims of the quake. “UNICEF is deeply concerned about the devastating impact of today’s earthquake in Myanmar on children and families,” the agency wrote on X on Friday, also noting damage in Thailand.

The agency stated that its on-ground team is assessing the impact and preparing for humanitarian support. However, aid groups operating in the region are facing severe challenges when it comes to reaching the quake victims, CNN reported.

The director of a humanitarian organization in Myanmar told local reporters that it could take years for some hard-hit areas to rebuild after being struck. Joe Freeman, a researcher from Amnesty International, urged Myanmar’s ruling military junta to allow access to humanitarian aid for all quake-affected areas, saying the quake “could not come at a worse time” for the country.

Meanwhile, Margaret Harris, of the World Health Organization, said the damage from the earthquake is “enormous” and the organization activated its logistic hub to look for trauma supplies to help treat victims.

With inputs from agencies.