JAKARTA, Indonesia: The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) has launched a coordinated international relief operation in Myanmar after a powerful earthquake and its subsequent aftershock.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake, with a depth of 10 kilometres (km), struck approximately 19km north-west of Mandalay in Myanmar on Friday.
It was followed by a major aftershock measuring 6.4 in magnitude and at a depth of 10km, further exacerbating the effects of the initial tremor.
A delegation from the AHA Centre, led by executive director Lee Yam Ming and director of operations Sithu Pe Thein, arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday evening to collaborate with Myanmar’s Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in supporting regional response efforts.
AHA Centre is also coordinating with other ASEAN nations in the relief operations.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Operations Lionheart contingent, comprising 80 personnel specialising in logistics, medical, search and rescue, along with four dogs, has arrived in Myanmar to begin urban search and rescue (USAR) operations, according to a situation update report from the centre.
Malaysia deployed its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) consisting of 50 personnel, while Indonesia will be sending its Indonesian Search and Rescue Team (INASAR) to provide additional USAR support.
The centre is also mobilising ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) members from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam to assist with on-the-ground operations.
Singapore’s team has already arrived, while those from Brunei and Indonesia are expected to follow in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the AHA Centre is facilitating the shipment of essential relief supplies from its Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) warehouse in Subang, Malaysia.
Two commercial flights carrying DELSA items, supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund, France, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, were expected to land in Myanmar on Saturday.
On Friday, the AHA Centre raised its Emergency Operations Centre alert level to ‘RED’, indicating a critical situation requiring immediate attention.
Myanmar’s initial assistance request includes USAR teams and non-food relief items such as tents, tarpaulins and hygiene kits.
Satellite imagery analysis has also been activated through Sentinel Asia and UNOSAT’s Space Charter, with Geographic Information System (GIS) support from MapAction to enhance situational awareness, the centre added. – BERNAMA
