04.04.2025 (12:01 PM)

More than 2,000 households in 10 village tracts in Nyaung Shwe Township, southern Shan State, are in need of humanitarian assistance and building materials, according to local residents.

A powerful earthquake that struck Inle Lake at 12:52 p.m. on March 28 caused extensive damage to homes, monasteries, schools, and hotels. In addition, nearly 90 local residents are reported to have died in the earthquake.

“It’s even more terrifying than the flood. Many houses have been destroyed by the earthquake. This year’s Pagoda Festival is uncertain. The Inle Bo Te is also tilted in half. Hotels are completely destroyed. The damage is expensive. A hotel in Thalay Sha costs about 200,000 baht per room, and 37 rooms, including the main building, are still under water. We haven’t finished cleaning them yet. Kayla Sha is the worst. About 85 percent of the houses were destroyed and 41 people died in one village. In Kayla village alone, eight people from one family died. It was afternoon and they were gathered downstairs when the upper floor collapsed. It’s very sad,” said a local from Inle.

In Inle Lake, Mong Myaw village tract, Khlek Oo village tract, He Ya Ywa Ma village tract, Inyan Kayla village tract, Nan Thae village tract, Min Chaung village tract, Phan Phetchaung village tract, According to the data collected by relevant officials on March 29, 2035 households and 9,728 people in Tilaw Village Tract, Intan Village Tract, and Kyungyi Village Tract are facing hardships.

According to the village lists collected by organizations providing social assistance in Inle Lake, there are 850 households in Kayla, Sitta, Ohnpin, Shwepyithar, and Zaratgyi villages in Kayla Group, 220 households in Nanpan Kyar Taw Village, 61 households in Nanpan Ye Le, 202 households in Nanpan Pauk Pa, 250 households in Ai Daunggyi, 115 households in Seong Wa Gyi, 85 households in Myaung Wa Gyi, 25 households in Inyan, 155 households in Thalay Oo Inn Village, 158 households in Nyaung Wun, A total of 2,566 houses were damaged in the three villages of Kyar Kyaw, 325 houses in the 14th ward of Shama, 15 houses in Kan Kaung, and 20 houses in In Pa Khon.

A resident of Tha Lay village in In Lay Lake suggested that the real needs in In Lay Lake, 5 days after the earthquake, are (1) carpenters to demolish and properly clean up houses, (2) temporary shelters/bamboo huts, (3) building materials, and (4) money.