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UN chief voices condolences to Italy, Myanmar after powerful earthquakes

Xinhua, August 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is "saddened" by the reports of lives lost and damage caused by strong earthquakes in Italy and Myanmar early Wednesday, and "he expresses his condolences to the peoples and governments of both countries," a UN spokesman told reporters here.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is in contact with the national authorities and continues to closely monitor both situations, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "Along with our partners, we stand ready to support the national authorities and local organizations should any humanitarian support be needed."

The death toll in a strong earthquake in central Italy has risen to about 120 people and some 368 were injured after a powerful earthquake struck a remote area of central Italy Wednesday, according to the latest news reports.

The 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit the city of Rieti at 3:32 a.m. Wednesday (0132 GMT), with a shallow depth of 4.2 km, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Several powerful aftershocks followed, Italy's civil protection agency said.

A strong earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale rocked Myanmar Wednesday at 05:04:54 p.m. local time, according to the country's Meteorology and Hydrology Department. With an epicenter 197.9 kilometers southwest of Mandalay and 19.3 kilometers west of Chauk, the quake jolted most parts of the country including Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon.

The quake shook buildings and damaged electricity supply in many parts of the country, according to residents of quake-hit areas. No immediate and detailed official report is available on quake casualties, except that one died in Pakkoku which is yet to be confirmed. Enditem