More than 2,000 households in ten village tracts in Nyaungshwe Township, southern Shan State, are in need of humanitarian assistance and building materials, according to locals.

A powerful earthquake that struck Inle Lake at 12:52 pm on March 28 caused extensive damage to homes, monasteries, schools, and hotels. In addition, nearly 90 locals are reported to have died in the quake.

“It’s even more terrifying than the flood. Many houses have been destroyed by the earthquake. This year’s Pagoda Festival is uncertain. The Inle Bo Te is also tilted in half. Hotels are completely destroyed. The damage is huge. A hotel in Thalay Village costs about 200 million kyats per room, and 37 rooms, including the main building, are still under water. We haven’t finished cleaning them yet. Kayla Village is the worst. About 85 percent of the houses were destroyed and 41 people died. In Kayla Village alone, eight people from a family died. It was afternoon and they were gathered downstairs when the upper floor collapsed on top of them. It’s very sad,” said a local from Inle.

In Inle Lake, a total of 9,728 people from 2,035 households in Mong Thauik village tract, Thale Oo village tract, Heya Ywa Ma village tract, Ingyan Kayla village tract, Nan Thae village tract, Min Chaung village tract, Nga Phechaung village tract, Tilaw village tract, Intan village tract, and Kyungyi village tract are facing hardships, according to the data collected by relevant officials on March 29.

According to the village lists collected by organizations providing social assistance in Inle Lake, there are 850 houses in Kayla, Sitta, Ohnpin, Shwepyithar, and Zayatgyi villages in Kayla village tract, 220 houses in Nanpan Kyar Taw Village, 61 houses in Nanpan Ye Le Village, 202 houses in Nanpan Pauk Pa Village, 250 houses in Ai Daunggyi Village, 115 houses in Shae Wa Gyi Village, 85 houses in Myaung Wa Gyi Village, 25 houses in Ingyan Village, 155 houses in Thalae Oo Inn Village, 158 houses in Nyaung Wun Village, 85 houses in the three villages of Kyay Sar, 325 houses in the 14th ward of Ywarma Village, 15 houses in Kan Gaung Village, and 20 houses in In Pa Khon Village, totaling 2,566 houses, were damaged.

A resident of Thalay Village in In Lay Lake suggested that the real needs in In Lay Lake, 5 days after the earthquake, are carpenters to demolish and properly clean up houses, temporary shelters/bamboo huts, building materials, and money.