PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is sending teams of rescue and relief personnel to earthquake-hit central Myanmar, as top leaders pledged to also extend help to Thailand, which reported casualties in its capital Bangkok.
The internationally-renowned team will head to the most worst-hit areas to help in search and rescue efforts, he wrote on his Facebook page.
“At the same time, a humanitarian mission to Thailand is also being coordinated and planned, and will be sent soon,” said Ahmad Zahid, who heads the government’s federal committee on disaster management.
Malaysia is committed to strengthening disaster relief efforts in the region by supplying assets, technical expertise and logistics support to help victims and expedite the post-disaster recovery process, he said.
“Malaysia stands solidly with the people of Myanmar and Thailand in facing these difficult times and will continue to play an active role in humanitarian efforts in the region,” Ahmad Zahid said.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Malaysia is also sending another 50-member team under the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to support humanitarian and disaster relief efforts in Myanmar.
The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief team will leave today and consist of one contingent commander and 49 personnel, the ministry said in a statement, Bernama reports.
The ministry is facilitating all necessary visa and logistical arrangements for the Nadma mission, with the Malaysian Embassy in Yangon providing ground support and coordinating with local authorities and humanitarian partners.
In a message shared on Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by the quake and extended condolences to everyone affected.
He reaffirmed Malaysia’s solidarity with Asean neighbours and the country’s readiness to support ongoing humanitarian and recovery efforts.
“The reports of collapsed buildings, trapped civilians, and mounting casualties are deeply distressing,” Anwar wrote on his official Facebook page.
“In the spirit of shared responsibility, Malaysia stands with all affected communities during this period of recovery and resilience,” he said.
As of press time, the toll from the earthquake in Myanmar stands at 1,002 killed, 2,376 injured and 30 missing according to Myanmar’s State Administration Council.
The earthquake also knocked out electricity supplies while cellular lines were also down in some areas of Yangon.
In Thailand, the Bangkok Post reports that 10 people have been killed and 16 injured while 101 are still missing at three construction sites, including at the one where a 30-storey government building had collapsed.
