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40 killed in Myanmar quake

40 killed in Myanmar quake

Write: Aylward [2011-05-20]

TARLAY, Myanmar, March 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 40 people have been killed and 50 others injured in Tarlay, Myanmar's northeastern Shan state, hit by Thursday night's 7.0-magnitude strong earthquake, official sources said Friday.

Over 130 houses collapsed in the area lying between Tachileik and Mong Hpayak.

Ground where a bridge lies on the Shweli road linking Kengtung and Tachileik was 1.5 meters lower near the Tarlay side, the sources said.

Some houses around Tachileik were damaged in Thursday night's quake which had killed two people and injured six others in the area, official report said earlier.

A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale jolted northeastern Myanmar on Thursday night at 20:29 local time (13:69 GMT).

The earthquake struck Loimwe, 56 kilometers southeast of Kengtung, followed by six after shocks until Friday morning.

So far, life in Tachileik and Kengtung are normal with no power blackout and water supply disruption despite the damage.

Local red cross has started relief operation there since Friday morning.