Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday.
More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock.
Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said.
Photo courtesy of the National Fire Agency via CNA
Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as international resources have been deemed sufficient, it said.
After seeing the agency’s announcement, many Burmese took to social media to thank Taiwan for its willingness to provide disaster relief.
However, they also said they “cannot understand” why the Taiwanese teams were turned away, as they have extensive experience in earthquake relief.
Myanmar’s military junta has allowed access to Chinese teams, but denied those from Taiwan, they said.
Myanmar still has many areas that need immediate disaster relief, a Burmese master’s student at National Chi Nan University said.
She said she contacted family and friends in Myanmar yesterday, who reported that some areas have “the stench of death” with time running out to save people due to a shortage of rescue personnel.
She said she is searching for reliable donation channels and non-governmental organiztions to ensure that money donated would go directly to those in need, adding that she hopes Taiwan and the international community would continue to keep eyes on Myanmar and provide the help it desperately needs.
National Taiwan Normal University Division of Preparatory Programs for Overseas Chinese Students Student Union president Liao Ming-tung (廖明東) said he has friends and family who died in the earthquake.
His home country is in desperate need of excavation equipment and rescue personnel, as many are trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings, he said.
Every second lost could have been used to save lives, he added.
Liao said he hopes that international rescue workers and compassionate people worldwide would come to Myanmar’s aid during the current “golden window” to rescue survivors.
Moreover, post-disaster efforts, including relocating displaced survivors and rebuilding infrastructure, would require continued international aid, he added.
Even if Taiwanese rescue teams cannot enter, hopefully the Taiwanese government would still provide assistance where possible, said a student surnamed Chu (瞿), who came to Taiwan from Myanmar nine years ago.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS