Earthquake hits Myanmar, no immediate reports of damage

The quake sent strong tremors through Myanmar, eastern India, Bangladesh and parts of Nepal

YANGON: An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 struck northwestern Myanmar on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, sending strong tremors through Myanmar, eastern India, Bangladesh and parts of Nepal.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or loss of life as a result of the tremor, located around 100 km (62 miles) north-northwest of the city of Monywa at an estimated depth of 134 km.

"We haven't heard any reports of casualties or damage," said an official from Myanmar's meteorological department based in the capital Naypyitaw.



"So far as I know the epicentre wasn't in a densely populated area." Witnesses in Bagan, central Myanmar, said some tourists left their hotel rooms and stood outside when they felt the tremor.

They saw no sign of damage to buildings, however. Electricity was cut off in parts of northeastern India as thermal power stations were shut down as a precautionary measure.

Prelim M6.9 earthquake Myanmar Apr-13 13:55 UTC, updates https://t.co/3QdEIOyk6N

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) April 13, 2016

"I felt the tremor three times. I saw people rushing out," said Rupak De Chowdhuri, a Reuters photographer in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were visiting the northeastern Indian state of Assam on Wednesday, were safe, the British High Commission in New Delhi said.

Tremors were also felt in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh, as well as in eastern Nepal. "We felt the quake. But it was not so strong to make us flee our homes," said Dinesh Rai, a resident of Nepal's eastern state of Jhapa.