A strong earthquake struck northern Myanmar on Sunday, collapsing a bridge and a gold mine, damaging several old Buddhist pagodas and leaving as many as 12 people feared dead.
No casualties or major damage were reported in the nearest major population center, Myanmar's second-biggest city of Mandalay, about 117 kilometers (72 miles) south of the quake's epicenter near the town of Shwebo.
An official from the Meteorological Department in the capital, Naypyitaw, said the magnitude-6.8 quake struck at 7:42 a.m. local time.
The area surrounding the epicenter is underdeveloped, and casualty reports were coming in piecemeal, mostly from local media. The region is a center for mining of minerals and gemstones, and several mines were reported to have collapsed.
The biggest single death toll was reported by a local administrative officer in Sintku township — on the Irrawaddy River near the quake's epicenter — who told The Associated Press that six people had died there and another 11 were injured.
He said some of the dead were miners who were killed when a gold mine collapsed. He spoke on condition of anonymity because local officials are not usually allowed to release information to the media.
According to news reports, several people died when a bridge under construction across the Irrawaddy River collapsed east of Shwebo. The bridge linked the town of Sinku, 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Mandalay on the east bank of the Irrawaddy, with Kyaukmyaung on the west bank.
The website of Weekly Eleven magazine said four people were killed and 25 injured when the bridge, which was 80 percent built, fell. The local government announced a toll of two dead and 16 injured. All of the victims appeared to be workers.
However, a Shwebo police officer, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said just one person was confirmed dead from the bridge's collapse, while five were still unaccounted for.
Weekly Eleven also said two monasteries in Kyaukmyaung collapsed, killing two people.
"This is the worst earthquake I felt in my entire life," Soe Soe, a 52-year-old Shwebo resident, told The Associated Press by phone.
She said that the huge concrete gate of a local monastery collapsed and that several sculptures from another pagoda in the town were damaged.
Other damage was reported in Mogok, a major gem-mining area just east of the quake's epicenter. Temples were damaged there, as were some abandoned mines.
"Landslides occurred at some old ruby mines, but there were no casualties because these are old mines," Sein Win, a Mogok resident, said by phone.
Damage to centuries-old Buddhist temples is a common result of Myanmar earthquakes, but regarded by the superstitious as a bad omen. The so-called "umbrella" atop a stupa in Mogok had reportedly crashed down in Sunday's quake. These uppermost parts of the brick domes usually have encased in them relics of the Buddha and small Buddha images, and sometimes jewels.
Sein Win said police were guarding the damaged stupa and its exposed relics.
A resident of Naypyitaw, which is 365 kilometers (225 miles) south of the quake's epicenter, said several window panes of the parliament building had broken.
The epicenter is in a region frequently hit by small temblors that usually cause little damage.
The quake was felt in Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand. It comes just a week ahead of a scheduled visit to Myanmar by President Barack Obama. He will be the first U.S. president to visit the one-time pariah nation, which is emerging from decades of military rule.
Associated Press
Sun Nov 11 2012
![Strong quake strikes Myanmar; up to 12 feared dead Strong quake strikes Myanmar; up to 12 feared dead](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2012-11/81352623675_120x90.jpg)
[TERKINI] Jenazah Nur Farah Kartini dikebumikan di Pekan
Jenazah bekas penuntut Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, 25, dijangka akan dikebumikan di Pekan, Pahang, pada Rabu.
![MITI tekad jadikan Malaysia peneraju serantau sektor teknologi hijau MITI tekad jadikan Malaysia peneraju serantau sektor teknologi hijau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716607692_TBZAFRUL.jpg)
MITI tekad jadikan Malaysia peneraju serantau sektor teknologi hijau
Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI) bersedia menyokong pelaksanaan Strategi Pelaburan Hijau bagi menarik pelaburan hijau ke Malaysia dan memangkin pembangunan sosio-ekonomi lestari.
[TERKINI] Punca kematian Nur Farah Kartini belum dapat disahkan - Polis
Menurut Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, pihak Pakar Patalogi Jabatan Forensik Hospital Sungai Buloh memerlukan keputusan analisis makmal terhadap beberapa sampel biologi yang diambil pada mayat untuk mengenal pasti punca kematian.
[TERKINI] PM arah MOSTI senaraikan 100 saintis untuk ke 100 sekolah
Perdana Menteri mengarahkan Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Chang Lih Kang menyenaraikan 100 saintis dalam bidang bioteknologi untuk pergi ke 100 sekolah dan menganjurkan program di sana.
![Mayat lelaki tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung di Sungai Malim Mayat lelaki tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung di Sungai Malim](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720161058_TBLOGOPDRM.jpg)
Mayat lelaki tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung di Sungai Malim
Mayat seorang lelaki tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung dalam keadaan tertiarap di Sungai Malim.
![PM jumpa keluarga Teoh Beng Hock minggu depan PM jumpa keluarga Teoh Beng Hock minggu depan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720677592_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
PM jumpa keluarga Teoh Beng Hock minggu depan
Pertemuan itu adalah untuk meneliti memorandum tuntutan yang mahu disampaikan keluarga berkenaan kepada kerajaan.
"Bukit Gantang itu tulis PN. Dia bukan PN dah...," soal YB Pasir Mas
"Bukit Gantang itu tulis PN. Dia bukan PN dah...," soal YB Pasir Mas.
"Ada bukti hitam putih yang PN telah tulis kepada saya untuk tarik dia keluar?," soal Speaker Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
#SisiTVParlimen
"Ada bukti hitam putih yang PN telah tulis kepada saya untuk tarik dia keluar?," soal Speaker Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
#SisiTVParlimen
![Israel sekat bekalan minyak ke Gaza - PBB Israel sekat bekalan minyak ke Gaza - PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720130905_foodtrucksaid.jpg)
Israel sekat bekalan minyak ke Gaza - PBB
Setiausaha Agung PBB, Stephane Dujarric berkata bahawa berpuluh-puluh orang awam terbunuh dan yang lain cedera dalam serangan terbaharu Israel ke atas Gaza.
![Bursa Malaysia meningkat pada sesi awal seiring prestasi Wall Street Bursa Malaysia meningkat pada sesi awal seiring prestasi Wall Street](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51709865166_BURSAMALAYSIA.jpg)
Bursa Malaysia meningkat pada sesi awal seiring prestasi Wall Street
Pada 9.05 pagi ini, indeks petunjuk utama FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) menokok 5.67 mata kepada 1,631.63 daripada paras 1,625.96 pada akhir dagangan semalam.
Miskin tegar tak boleh dihapuskan jika tiada - Shafie Apdal
Ahli Parlimen Semporna, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal berkata miskin tegar tidak boleh dihapuskan sepenuhnya jika tiada formula dan angka yang tepat.
#SisiTVParlimen
#SisiTVParlimen
![Penunjuk perasaan anti rampasan kuasa Myanmar berlindung di masjid Penunjuk perasaan anti rampasan kuasa Myanmar berlindung di masjid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/41618545091_Myanmar.jpg)
Penunjuk perasaan anti rampasan kuasa Myanmar berlindung di masjid
Penunjuk perasaan anti rampasan kuasa tentera menyelamatkan diri selepas pihak berkuasa melepaskan gas pemedih mata di Yangon.
![Tunjuk perasaan di Myanmar diteruskan selepas 114 terbunuh dalam sehari Tunjuk perasaan di Myanmar diteruskan selepas 114 terbunuh dalam sehari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/51616967519_YangonMyanmar.jpg)
Tunjuk perasaan di Myanmar diteruskan selepas 114 terbunuh dalam sehari
Penunjuk perasaan di Myamar meneruskan protes bagi menuntut untuk demokrasi dikembalikan selepas hari paling berdarah buat negara itu.
![Budak 7 tahun mati ditembak, mangsa termuda dalam konflik rampasan kuasa Myanmar Budak 7 tahun mati ditembak, mangsa termuda dalam konflik rampasan kuasa Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/51614487402_Protesters.jpg)
Budak 7 tahun mati ditembak, mangsa termuda dalam konflik rampasan kuasa Myanmar
Badan bukan kerajaan, Save the Children mendakwa lebih 20 kanak-kanak merupakan antara puluhan yang maut sejak rampasan kuasa itu berlaku.
![Myanmar: Mangsa 20 tahun ditembak di kepala selamat disemadikan Myanmar: Mangsa 20 tahun ditembak di kepala selamat disemadikan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/51614901793_funeral.jpg)
Myanmar: Mangsa 20 tahun ditembak di kepala selamat disemadikan
Lebih 50 orang disahkan dibunuh oleh polis dan tentera, termasuk sekurang-kurangnya 38 kematian yang dilaporkan berlaku pada Rabu.
![8 maut selepas ribut bersama hujan air batu sebesar bola golf landa Myanmar 8 maut selepas ribut bersama hujan air batu sebesar bola golf landa Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-04/51461500082_MyanmarStorm.jpg)
8 maut selepas ribut bersama hujan air batu sebesar bola golf landa Myanmar
Cuaca buruk sejak beberapa hari itu turut menyebabkan banyak kuil pagoda dan ribuan bangunan musnah.
![Ketegangan penganut Buddha-Islam di Myanmar, 2 lelaki maut Ketegangan penganut Buddha-Islam di Myanmar, 2 lelaki maut](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-07/81404395911_295x200.jpg)
Ketegangan penganut Buddha-Islam di Myanmar, 2 lelaki maut
Mandalay, bandar kedua terbesar di Myanmar, diletakkan di bawah perintah berkurung.
![Gempa bumi Myanmar korban 12 nyawa Gempa bumi Myanmar korban 12 nyawa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2012-11/81352633124_120x90.jpg)
Gempa bumi Myanmar korban 12 nyawa
Gempa bumi kuat yang menggegar Myanmar mengorbankan sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang.