NEW DELHI, MAR 29 : Day after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, rescuers have been working tirelessly through the rubble with their bare hands, frantically searching for survivors in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city and the epicentre of the quake. At least 694 people have been killed, according to a Myanmar military leader, with a US agency warning that the toll could exceed 10,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quake was so powerful that even Bangkok, located 900 kilometres away, felt its impact, causing the collapse of several iconic structures and bridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strong tremors were also felt in parts of India, including Meghalaya and Manipur, as well as in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka and Chattogram, and in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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After PM Modi declared that India is ready to offer assistance, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar today said that India has sent 15 tonnes of relief material, including solar lamps, food packets and kitchen sets, to Myanmar on an IAF C 130 J aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the earthquake, the Thai government declared a state of emergency in the capital, Bangkok. At least 10 people have died, and 100 construction workers went missing after an unfinished skyscraper collapsed in Bangkok on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amid Donald Trump\u2019s announcement of cuts to USAID, the US President vowed to send assistance to earthquake-hit Myanmar. The budget cuts have stalled humanitarian work worldwide. USAID has historically played a key role in disaster relief efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Friday warned that the earthquake may have caused “high casualties and extensive damage,” with the death toll potentially exceeding 10,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Myanmar, a country ravaged by years of civil war, is facing an acute power and water crisis following the earthquake. In a rare global appeal, Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, has requested assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I would like to invite any country, any organisation, or anyone in Myanmar to come and help. Thank you,” he said, adding that he has opened all doors for foreign aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China and Russia have already sent aid and rescue teams to Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-PTI<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NEW DELHI, MAR 29 : Day after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, rescuers have been working tirelessly through the rubble with their bare hands, frantically searching for survivors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":135496,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n