A FORUM on earthquake preparedness under the title of “National Earthquake Preparedness and Response Plan & Earthquake Forum” was held at Thingaha Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
The for um was chaired by Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye with Chairman of Myanmar Engineer Society, U Aung Myint as its Co- chair.
Yangon Region Minister for Social Affairs, U Naing Ngan Lin of Yangon Regional Disaster Management team, secretary of Mandalay Regional Disaster Management team, Director U Aye Min Thu, Director U Soe Win of Fire Services Department, Deputy Director of Department of Meteorology and Hydrology Dr Yin Myo Min Htway participated in the discussion.
At the event, Dr Win Myat Aye said that earthquake is an unpredictable thread and large measure of preparation must be taken to withstand the impact of it. It is necessary to have awareness and knowledge of earthquake preparedness, to educate the public on disasters extensively and to carry out disaster preparedness systematically.
He said National Earthquake Preparedness and Response Plan has been drawn up and invited suggestions concerning preparation for the plan.
Then, U Aung Myint discussed pre earthquake assessment, construction in accordance with Building Code, strengthening rescue teams and research.
Afterwards, U Naing Ngan Lin explained about education process, earthquake forums and workshops, drills, drilling performances and plans for the future in the matters of these tasks.
Then, U Aye Min Thu discussed mapping earthquake prone area in Mandalay Region, boosting awareness programmes in those areas, collaboration of related departments with rescue teams, drilling performances and preparation for possible disasters.
Afterwards, U Soe Win explained about formation of rescue teams, allocation responsibilities and drilling performances.
Then, Dr Yin Myo Min Htwe discussed evaluation of earthquake and tsunami disasters that occurred in Myanmar, location of earthquake fault lines, earthquake victim camps, collaboration of earthquake committee and other organizations and international collaboration on earthquake research.
Then, the Union Minister and officials responded to queries in Q& A session.
Afterwards, a discussion was held under the title of “Future Plans for Earthquake Preparedness”.
The discussion was chaired by Director General of Department of Disaster Management, Dr Ko Ko Naing and co-chaired by Director General of Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, U Kyaw Moe Oo.
Dr Min Thein, Director of Disaster Management Department, Deputy Director from Ministry of Construction, Daw Mya Moe Win, Dr Myo Thant of Myanmar Earthquake committee and Daw Lat Lat Aye of DRR Working Group participated in the discussion.
The meeting was supervised by National Disaster Management Committee under the leadership Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.—MNA (Translated by Alphonsus)
