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Japan Times
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Myanmar quake truce crumbles amid border clashes
Two Myanmar towns on a lucrative trade route to Thailand have been besieged by fighting despite a truce declared after last month's massive earthquake, residents said on Thursday. A 2021 coup sparked a multi-sided civil war between Myanmar's military, pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic rebel groups that have long been active in the country's fringes. Four years of conflict have spurred mass displacement and poverty, and much of the fighting has focused on trade routes where combatants run tollgates to bolster their war chests. The junta and numerous opposition groups declared a ceasefire to ease relief efforts after a 7.7 magnitude quake hit central Myanmar on March 28, killing more than 3,700 people. However, three eastern Myanmar residents said fighting has been raging for days around the junta-held towns of Kyondoe and Kawkareik, which sit on a highway leading to the western Thailand border town of Mae Sot. A resident from an outlying village, who asked to remain anonymous, said the towns had been under attack by "combined forces" from different rebel groups since before Sunday. "There were air strikes and artillery shots around our village since two days ago," they added. "We have no place to hide." A resident living a short distance from Kyondoe said their village had been occupied by members of the anti-coup People's Defence Force. "We are hearing the sounds of air strikes and artillery shooting. We cannot flee to other places now," they said. "We are really scared." A third resident from Kyondoe, 50 kilometers from the Thai border, said they fled two days ago alongside many neighbors from surrounding villages "to avoid heavy fighting." The junta said after the earthquake that it would honor a truce until April 22, but would still retaliate against attacks. As many as 60,000 people are living in tent encampments after the quake, according to United Nations figures. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun accused several rebel groups on Wednesday evening of breaching the truce in recent days, including near Kyondoe and inside Kawkareik. Zaw Min Tun could not be reached for further comment on Thursday. Monitors agree that the post-quake truce has not held but junta chief Min Aung Hlaing is reportedly due to make a rare trip abroad on Thursday to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and discuss an extension. Malaysia is this year's chair of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc. ASEAN has in the past barred junta officials from its summits over lack of progress on a peace plan. However, Anwar said he would meet Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok to discuss prolonging the ceasefire beyond Tuesday to protect Malaysian teams working on quake relief efforts.
Arab Times
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Central Myanmar shaken by new quake in one of biggest aftershocks since March 28 temblor
BANGKOK, April 13, (AP): A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck on Sunday morning near Meiktila, a small city in central Myanmar, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake came as Myanmar is engaged in relief efforts following a massive 7.7 magnitude temblor that also hit the country's central region on March 28. The epicenter of the latest quake was roughly hallway between Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, which suffered enormous damage and casualties in last month's earthquake, and Naypyitaw, the capital, where several government offices were then damaged. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties caused by the new quake, one of the strongest of hundreds of aftershocks from the March 28 temblor. As of Friday, the death toll from that quake was 3,649, with 5,018 injured, according to Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for Myanmar's military government. Myanmar's Meteorological Department said Sunday's quake occurred in the area of Wundwin township, 97 kilometers (60 miles) south of Mandalay, at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles). The US Geological Survey estimated the depth at 7.7 km (4.8 miles). Two Wundwin residents told The Associated Press by phone the quake was so strong that people rushed out of buildings and that ceilings in some dwellings were damaged. A resident of Naypyitaw also reached by phone said he did not feel the latest quake. Those contacted asked not to be named for fear of angering the military government, which prefers to closely control information. The United Nations last week warned that damage caused by the March 28 quake will worsen the existing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where a civil war had already displaced more than 3 million people. It said the quake severely disrupted agricultural production and that a health emergency loomed because many medical facilities in the quake zone were damaged or destroyed. Sunday's quake occurred on the morning of the first day of the country's three-day Thingyan holiday, which celebrates the traditional New Year. Public festivities for the holiday had already been canceled.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-04-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Central Myanmar Shaken by New Quake
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck on Sunday morning near Meiktila, a small city in central Myanmar, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake came as Myanmar is engaged in relief efforts following a massive 7.7 magnitude temblor that also hit the country's central region on March 28. The epicenter of the latest quake was roughly hallway between Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, which suffered enormous damage and casualties in last month's earthquake, and Naypyitaw, the capital, where several government offices were then damaged. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties caused by the new quake, one of the strongest of hundreds of aftershocks from the March 28 temblor, The Associated Press reported. As of Friday, the death toll from that quake was 3,649, with 5,018 injured, according to Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for Myanmar's military government. Myanmar's Meteorological Department said Sunday's quake occurred in the area of Wundwin township, 97 kilometers (60 miles) south of Mandalay, at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles). The US Geological Survey estimated the depth at 7.7 km (4.8 miles). Two Wundwin residents told AP by phone the quake was so strong that people rushed out of buildings and that ceilings in some dwellings were damaged. A resident of Naypyitaw also reached by phone said he did not feel the latest quake. Those contacted asked not to be named for fear of angering the military government, which prefers to closely control information. The United Nations last week warned that damage caused by the March 28 quake will worsen the existing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where a civil war had already displaced more than 3 million people. It said the quake severely disrupted agricultural production and that a health emergency loomed because many medical facilities in the quake zone were damaged or destroyed. Sunday's quake occurred on the morning of the first day of the country's three-day Thingyan holiday, which celebrates the traditional New Year. Public festivities for the holiday had already been canceled.
Al Arabiya
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Central Myanmar shaken by new quake in one of the biggest aftershocks since March
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck on Sunday morning near Meiktila, a small city in central Myanmar, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake came as Myanmar is engaged in relief efforts following a massive 7.7 magnitude temblor that also hit the country's central region on March 28. The epicenter of the latest quake was roughly hallway between Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, which suffered enormous damage and casualties in last month's earthquake, and Naypyitaw, the capital, where several government offices were then damaged. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties caused by the new quake, one of the strongest of hundreds of aftershocks from the March 28 temblor. As of Friday, the death toll from that quake was 3,649, with 5,018 injured, according to Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for Myanmar's military government. Myanmar's Meteorological Department said Sunday's quake occurred in the area of Wundwin township, 97 kilometers (60 miles) south of Mandalay, at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles). The US Geological Survey estimated the depth at 7.7 km (4.8 miles). Two Wundwin residents told The Associated Press by phone the quake was so strong that people rushed out of buildings and that ceilings in some dwellings were damaged. A resident of Naypyitaw also reached by phone said he did not feel the latest quake. Those contacted asked not to be named for fear of angering the military government, which prefers to closely control information. The United Nations last week warned that damage caused by the March 28 quake will worsen the existing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where a civil war had already displaced more than 3 million people. It said the quake severely disrupted agricultural production and that a health emergency loomed because many medical facilities in the quake zone were damaged or destroyed. Sunday's quake occurred on the morning of the first day of the country's three-day Thingyan holiday, which celebrates the traditional New Year. Public festivities for the holiday had already been canceled.
The Independent
13-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Myanmar hit by fresh earthquake during hundreds of aftershocks
A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Meiktila in central Myanmar on Sunday, adding to the region's recent seismic woes. This latest tremor comes as the nation grapples with the aftermath of a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that ravaged the same central region on March 28. The epicentre of Sunday's quake was located approximately halfway between Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, and the capital, Naypyitaw. Both cities experienced significant damage in last month's earthquake, with Mandalay bearing the brunt of casualties and destruction, and Naypyitaw suffering damage to several government buildings. This new earthquake further complicates ongoing relief and recovery efforts in the region. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties caused by the new quake, one of the strongest of hundreds of aftershocks from the March 28 event. As of Friday, the death toll from that quake was 3,649, with 5,018 injured, according to Major General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for Myanmar's military government. A map of Meiktila: Myanmar's Meteorological Department said Sunday's quake occurred in the area of Wundwin township, 60 miles south of Mandalay, at a depth of 12 miles. The US Geological Survey estimated the depth at 4.8 miles. Two Wundwin residents told Associated Press by phone the quake was so strong people rushed out of buildings and that ceilings in some dwellings were damaged. A resident of Naypyitaw also reached by phone said he did not feel the latest quake. Those contacted asked not to be named for fear of angering the military government, which prefers to closely control information. The United Nations last week warned damage caused by the March 28 quake will worsen the existing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where a civil war had already displaced more than three million people. It said the quake severely disrupted agricultural production and that a health emergency loomed because many medical facilities in the quake zone were damaged or destroyed. Sunday's quake occurred on the morning of the first day of the country's three-day Thingyan holiday, which celebrates the traditional new year. Public festivities for the holiday had already been canceled.
