Myanmar's Earthquake Aftermath: 112 Aftershocks and Canceled New Year Celebrations
Seismic Activity and Casualties in Myanmar
As of Thursday, Myanmar has recorded a total of 112 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 7.5, as reported by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
These aftershocks followed a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale that hit the nation on March 28.
The latest figures indicate that the earthquake has claimed 3,649 lives, according to the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council, as of 6 PM local time on Wednesday.
In addition, the disaster has left 5,018 individuals injured and 145 people unaccounted for.
The earthquake has severely impacted communication infrastructure, damaging 6,730 mobile communication stations, as detailed by the state-run daily, The Mirror.
As of April 6, 5,999 of these stations have been restored, while 731 are still undergoing repairs.
Furthermore, 15 post offices in Myanmar temporarily halted operations due to the earthquake but resumed services on March 31.
Celebrations Affected by Natural Disaster
In light of the recent earthquake, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar announced that the Ata Thingyan Festival, which marks the Myanmar New Year, will be celebrated this year without music or dance.
This year's festival is particularly significant as it is the first celebration since Thingyan was recognized by UNESCO as part of the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
According to the Engineering Department of the Yangon City Development Committee, the construction of the water festival pavilion and the Thingyan Walk in front of Yangon City Hall has been halted and canceled.
These cancellations are a direct result of the devastating earthquake that occurred on March 28, which caused extensive casualties and damage to infrastructure.
The Ata Thingyan Festival is scheduled to take place from April 13 to 16, with the traditional Myanmar New Year falling on April 17.