A moderate earthquake struck central Myanmar on Sunday morning, just 16 days after a powerful quake caused widespread destruction in the country.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the latest quake occurred near the small central town of Meiktila.
On March 28, a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake devastated Myanmar's Mandalay region, killing 3,649 people and injuring over 5,000 others. The country is still reeling from that disaster, and now a 5.5-magnitude tremor has once again shaken several areas.
Myanmar's Department of Meteorology reported that Sunday's earthquake occurred 20 kilometers beneath the surface near Wundwin, located about 97 kilometers from Mandalay.
Residents of Wundwin told the Associated Press (AP) that the shaking was intense enough to send people fleeing from their homes. Several houses were damaged, though no casualties have been reported yet. Meanwhile, a resident in the capital, Naypyidaw, said they didn't feel any tremors.
Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war for the past five years, and the recent earthquakes have further complicated the humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has warned that the situation may worsen.
According to the UN, the earthquakes have severely disrupted food production in the country. There are also concerns about a possible medical emergency, as many hospitals and clinics in the affected areas have been destroyed.
