Magnitude 6.8 Quake Strikes MYANMAR
Posted by feww on March 24, 2011
Quake May Have Caused Heavy Damage
The epicenter was located in a mountainous region of Myanmar near the borders with Thailand and Laos.
Tremors were felt in Bangkok and Hanoi.
Buildings swayed in Bangkok, about 770 kilometers south of the epicenter, AP reported.
No reports of damage as of posting; however, heavy damage could have occurred near the epicenter because buildings in the rural region are believed to be vulnerable to strong shocks.
A5.8 quake, which struck Yingjiang County in southwest China’s Yunnan Province (MYANMAR-CHINA BORDER REGION), killed at least 24 people and injured more than 200 others two weeks ago, a report said. The shock also destroyed about 1,000 buildings.
Earthquake Details
Magnitude: 6.8
Date-Time: Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 13:55:12 UTC
Location: 20.705°N, 99.949°E
Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Region: MYANMAR
Distances:
- 89 km (55 miles) N of Chiang Rai, Thailand
- 168 km (104 miles) SSW of Yunjinghong, Yunnan, China
- 589 km (365 miles) NE of Rangoon, Myanmar
- 772 km (479 miles) N of BANGKOK, Thailand
Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 15.4 km (9.6 miles); depth +/- 5.8 km (3.6 miles)
Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID: usc0002aes
Fire Earth 
feww said
The epicenter was about 40 km from the Myanmar-China border, xinhuanet quoted the Yunnan prefecture disaster relief headquarters as saying.
“The death toll has increased to more than 60 now from those areas including Tarlay, Mine Lin and Tachileik townships,” an official told reporters.
“About 90 people were injured from those areas. The officials are still trying to reach some more affected areas. There are some places we cannot reach yet.”\
The quake has destroyed at least 250 buildings, and damaged scores more.
SN said
[Thank you! Moderator]