MFA:No Thais are affected by strong quake in Yunnan

BANGKOK, August 5 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that no Thai citizens have been affected by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake in China's southern Yunnan Province on August 3 (local time). Acting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who is also Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, told journalists on Tuesday that Thailand's Consulate General in Kunming, Yunnan's capital and largest city, has checked and informed him that there were no Thai casualties in last Sunday's powerful quake, as there are no Thai nationals live in the quake-hit area in northeastern Yunnan. Sihasak noted that most Thais in Yunnan are students who live in urban areas, but the Consulate General in Kunming has closely monitored the updated situation and warned all Thai nationals in Yunnan to avoid travelling to the quake-stricken area. There are about 600 Thai citizens in Yunnan currently, most of them are students studying in Kunming, located far away from the quake-affected area. Citing close relations between Thailand and China, the acting Thai foreign minister expressed his sympathy and sorrow for last Sunday's tragedy in Yunnan, stating that Thai Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief General Prayuth Chan O-cha and he, himself, are sending letters to Beijing to convey a heartfelt condolence to the Chinese government and quake victims on behalf of the Thai government and all Thai people and to express Thailand's readiness to assist the quake victims, if requested, while Bangkok is considering to make a cash donation to the quake victims. China's Earthquake Networks Center reported that the strong tremor struck Yunnan at 4:30pm last Sunday (Beijing Time) with its epicenter located in Longtoushan Township, the worst quake to rock the southern Chinese province in a century, killing nearly 400 victims so far and injuring thousands others.(TNA)