Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win made an inspection tour of damaged buildings and diversion weirs and dams being maintained by Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area yesterday afternoon.
The Vice-Senior General inspected damaged buildings at the Myanmar Development Institute (MDI) office at the corner of Thazin and Myitmakha streets in the diplomatic zone of Dekkhinathiri Township and gave instructions to officials.
He also looked into damaged parts of Yanaungmyin Dam which supplies drinking water to Nay Pyi Taw Council Area. It is an earthen facility which partially contributes to the supply of water to the capital. It is an embankment with 36 feet in height and 4,060 feet in length. Its watershed is 11 square miles. The three-foot-long earthen failure occured at the embankment due to the impacts of the earthquake. A plan is underway to build a temporary embankment. So, it is not dangerous to break down the embankment.
The Vice-Senior General also inspected loss and damage at Yayngan Dam which is one of the supporting dams to supply water to Zabuthiri Township. It is an earthen embankment with 30 feet in height and 1,000 feet in length. Its watershed is 1,200 square acres of land. Some cracks appear on the exterior of the dam and some damage emerged at the conduit due to the impacts of the earthquake. So, officials drained out some four feet high of water from the dam to reduce pressure in the dam and are carrying out repair work as quickly as possible. The dam is not dangerous at all.
At Chaungmagyi Dam in Zabuthiri Township, the Vice-Senior General heard reports on facts about dams and reservoirs in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, strengthening of dams and damage at the embankments by officials. The Vice-Senior General instructed officials to systematically inspect the maintenance of dams, check the floor of dams with the strength of divers from Tatmadaw (Navy) using underwater cameras, and systematically manage the supply of drinking water to dwellers in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area without breakage of dams.
The Vice-Senior General went to see injuried civilians receiving medical treatment healthcare services and recovery of injuries at the temporary hospital (Paunglaung) in Paunglaung Sports Ground in Pyinmana and individually comforted the patients.
The temporary hospital (Paunglaung) is providing medical treatment for victims of the earthquake and other patients, with assistance from the Tatmadaw and the Ministry of Health. The hospital is staffed by specialists in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ENT, neurology, psychiatry, pathology, pharmacy, and public health, as well as doctors, nurses, and medical officers. It is equipped with mobile surgical and X-ray vehicles and necessary medical instruments, providing round-the-clock care to those injured and others in need of healthcare services. Up to now, 36 critical patients and 60 outpatients have received the necessary healthcare services. Moreover, a team of 40 medical personnel from Bhutan, sent by the King of Bhutan, is also collaborating to providing essential medical treatment and supplies at the temporary hospital (Paunglaung). This Bhutanese medical team is establishing a separate temporary hospital and will continue to provide necessary healthcare services to the victims of the earthquake with compassion and support. — MNA/TTA
