MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Russia is ready to promptly respond to relief aid requests from Southeast Asia countries in connection with the devastating earthquake that hit earlier in the day, but Moscow has not received such requests as of yet, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
"As far as I know there have been no such requests, but the earthquake struck just recently," he said. "The authorities of the countries in question need time to evaluate the scale of inflicted damage."
"Russia will certainly pay its due attention and respond promptly if such requests are received," he added.
Earlier, a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar. According to various sources, its magnitude varied between 7.7 to 7.9. It was followed by a second earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4. The tremors were felt in China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
A bridge over the Irrawaddy River collapsed in Myanmar due to the earthquake, while the historic Mandalay Palace was partially damaged.
In Bangkok, residents of multi-storey apartment buildings are being evacuated and up to 60 workers had been reported to be trapped under the debris of one of the collapsed high-storey buildings.
Thailand's prime minister issued a state of emergency in his country’s capital.