No Thai casualties in Nepal's new earthquake

BANGKOK, May 13 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that there were no Thai casualties in a new 7.3-magnitude earthquake which hit Nepal on May 12. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, made the confirmation on Wednesday (May 13), regarding the latest quake in Nepal's Namche Bazaar Village, 84 kilometers from Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, at 12:35pm (local time) on Tuesday (May 12). The spokesman stated that no Thai people, including doctors from the Ministry of Public Health, were injured, but 14 Thai people took shelter at the Thai ambassador’s residence on Tuesday night for the sake of their safety. The spokesman reported, however, that the quake damaged parts of buildings and communication systems in quake-hit areas. Staff of the Thai Embassy in the Nepalese capital also confirmed that Thai Airways International (THAI), the national flag carrier, has operated as usual at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Concerned parties can contact the Thai Embassy in Kathmandu via its hotline numbers +977 980 106 9233 and +977 984 124 2094 or the Protection of Thai Nationals Abroad Division under the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Consular Affairs at its hotline numbers 085 911 4076 and 094 003 7190-2 from 8am to 10 pm every day. (TNA)