16 people killed, 71 injured in N. Myanmar earthquake: official - Xinhua

YANGON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed and 71 others injured in a strong earthquake which jolted the northern part of Myanmar on Sunday, an official of Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement told Xinhua Wednesday.

Local authorities are compiling figures of casualties and damages to properties.

During the earthquake, the Ayayawaddy-river-crossing bridge ( Yadana Theinga) under construction that links Shwebo, Kyaukmyaung in Sagaing region with Singu in Mandalay region collapsed.

Relief and rehabilitation work in quake-hit northern regions in Myanmar have been underway in Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

Myanmar authorities is inviting donations for repairing quake- damaged schools, houses, pagodas and religious edifices institutions in quake stricken regions.

Aid and medical care have also reached out to the quake victims by local authorities, the army, fire department, red cross and NGOs with specialists taking care of the victims.

With a depth of 10 to 20 km, the 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the two regions at 07:42:37 local time (01:12:37 GMT) Sunday. The epicenter lies at Tabaitgine in Mandalay region, about 131 kilometers (km) north of Mandalay city and 72 kilometers north of Shwebo township.

Despite the strong earthquake, dams in the quake-hit regions remained unaffected.

Sunday's quake, followed by four moderate aftershocks of 5.0, 5. 8 and 5.7 magnitude, ruined pagodas, religious edifices, houses, schools, offices and construction works in Sagaing, Shwebo, Kyaukmyaung, Khin U, Mandalay, Amarapura, Singu, Kyaukse and Tabeitgine townships in Sagaing and Mandalay regions.

Two days after the strong quake, another moderate quake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale also struck Myanmar's new capital of Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday with the epicenter being 56 km south of Nay Pyi Taw and 22 km west of Swar township.

With a depth of 15 km, the quake happened at 08:23:04 hours local time (01:53:04 GMT).

No damage and casualties were reported with the latest quake in the capital where there is less density of population.