Roundup: Widespread damage reported after Myanmar's earthquake

YANGON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has resulted in extensive damage and loss of life, affecting over 500,000 people across the country, state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Friday.

The quake caused severe destruction, with 51,210 houses damaged and various infrastructure impacted, including 103 bridges, 83 railway segments, 11 railway bridges, 6,730 mobile communication stations, 10 high-voltage transmission lines and 3,435 transmission towers, the report said.

Additionally, 594 irrigation canals, six embankments, and 11,338 departmental buildings were affected.

Moreover, health and education infrastructure were also damaged, including 384 hospitals, 364 clinics, 2,409 basic education schools and 90 private schools, it said.

Cultural heritage sites, including 166 ancient buildings and museums, 6,469 temples and stupas, 5,588 other religious buildings and 344 private factories, were also impacted, it added.

The earthquake also devastated the agricultural and livestock sectors, killing 133,700 animals, it said.

The overall estimated damage amounts to 3.8 trillion kyats (about 1.811 billion U.S. dollars), it added.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement coordinated the recovery efforts with relevant ministries, an official from the ministry told Xinhua on Friday.

The DMC has provided temporary shelters for victims, ensured access to drinking water, and organized mobile sales of essential food items and household supplies, the report said.

Additionally, urgent measures such as restoring communication networks, supplying electricity, and relocating affected communities ahead of the monsoon season are underway, it said.

Temporary dispensaries have also been set up to deliver immediate healthcare services to those in need, it added.

In addition to domestic efforts, relief items from China, India, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and many other countries and regions were promptly distributed to those in need, it said.

At present, rehabilitation efforts have been accelerating, and the Myanmar Armed Forces has extended its temporary ceasefire until the end of May to support recovery operations, it added.

As of Friday, the disaster has claimed around 3,700 lives, left over 5,000 people injured, and 68 still missing, the report said. Enditem