Earth Quake in South East Asia Update from Myanmar
27-December-2004

The strong earthquake that evoke yesterday (26th Dec. 2004) just north of Sumatra and which send giant waves through the Bay of Bengal did hardly harm the country of Myanmar. Other Asian countries struck by tsunamis in the wake of the most powerful earthquake the planet has seen in 40 years have to count a lot of losses.

Fortunately for Myanmar, several thousand miles north of the epic center, there were no damages. Man could feel the earth shaking on Sunday morning, but no house or building was severely damaged and it is not known about any harm to people at all.

The most concern was towards the beach destinations on the west coast, Ngapali, Ngwe Saung and Chaungtha, as well as the south of Myanmar with its town Kawthong close to neighboring Thailand. All the resorts and beaches on the west coast were not damaged, everything is normal. The only unusual occurrence at Ngapali was that there were no regular tides over the day yesterday, the sea was moving forth and back, but stayed as far off the beach front as usual.

People even felt the earth shaking in Mandalay, but it had no destruction or other problem occurring in any tourist region of Central Myanmar including Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay or Bagan.

We are very happy to report that the tourism in Myanmar is in every place fully functional and that the country and its people are looking forward to welcome every visitor with their well known friendliness and kindness.