Myanmar hit by 6.8-magnitude quake

Myanmar (Burma) has been hit by 6.8-magnitude quake, destroying homes, schools and roads and leaving 12 people dead and over 100 injured.

The earthquake struck in northern Myanmar, 70 miles north of the country's second-largest city Mandalay, on Sunday morning.

The first earthquake hit at 07:42 local time (01:12 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake was felt strongly in the Shwebo-Male in Myanmar area as well as in much of the Bangkok-Chiang Mai area in Thailand.

Smaller towns closest to the epicentre were worst hit and several gemstone mines are said to have collapsed.

According to news reports, the bridge  across the Irrawaddy River linking Sintku with Kyaukmyaung collapsed.

Moderate to large earthquakes occur relatively frequently in Myanmar; the region within 250 km of the November 11th earthquake has hosted eight earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger over the past 40 years, according to the US Geological Survey.

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Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2012/11/12/myanmar-hit-by-6-8-magnitude-quake/