MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. Russian rescuers have started work to eliminate the consequences of a powerful earthquake in Myanmar, the press office of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry told TASS on Sunday.
"Rescuers of the Russian Emergencies Ministry have started work to eliminate the consequences of the earthquake in Myanmar," the press office said in a statement.
On March 30, representatives of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry and the Myanmar government held a meeting that decided to send a group of 20 Russian rescuers, dog handlers and operators of unmanned aircraft systems to the province of Mandalay worst hit by the earthquake. The group is equipped with all the necessary gear that makes it possible to start search and rescue operations immediately, it said.
In addition, a group of 10 Russian Emergencies Ministry specialists has been dispatched on cross country vehicles to assess the condition of infrastructure and roads in the quake-hit country, it said.
A powerful 8.2-magnitude quake hit Myanmar on March 28, claiming the lives of more than 1,600 people. Thailand also suffered from the disaster. The tremors were also felt in China and Vietnam.
Russia has sent three planes with rescuers, dog handlers, doctors and an airmobile hospital to Myanmar to help eliminate the consequences of the devastating earthquake.