25 March,2011 11:53 AM IST | | Agencies
A magnitude-6.8 earthquake killed at least 50 people in northeast Myanmar and one in Thailand, officials said Friday.
About 50 people died in Tarlay village, near the Myanmar-Thai border town of Tachilek in Shan state, according to Myanmar government sources in Naypyitaw.
An official, who asked to remain anonymous, said another two people died in Tachilek, 680 km north of Bangkok.
At least 100 homes were destroyed in Tarlay, he added. Many injured people were admitted to Tachilek Hospital, a witness said.
"We got the information from Shan State that the worst area was Tarlay town in eastern Shan state," said a provincial official who requested anonymity.
There were no reports on casualties in Yangon and Naypyitaw.
The earthquake struck at 8.25 p.m. (1355 GMT) Thursday, with its epicentre in northeast Myanmar, 589 km northeast of Yangon, Myanmar's old capital, and 772 km north of Bangkok, according to the US Geological Survey.
In Chiang Rai, Thailand, Hong Khamping, 55, died when a concrete wall in her home collapsed on top of her. The wall was poorly constructed, Thai officials said.
"There were no other deaths or injuries in northern Thailand," said Chiatha Mositrat, head of the Chiang Rai disaster prevention office.
Tourists in Chiang Rai, including members of the Syrian triathlon team, evacuated their hotel rooms for several hours.
