Russia sending some 60 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to those hurt by earthquake in Myanmar

MOSCOW. April 9 (Interfax) - Two special planes of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry have delivered a new batch of humanitarian assistance to residents of Myanmar hurt by a devastating earthquake, the ministry press service said on Wednesday.

The humanitarian operation was conducted on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov.

"Two Ilyushin Il-76 planes of the Emergency Situations Ministry have taken a humanitarian cargo weighing in total more than 59 tonnes to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Russian rescuers have delivered to the region hurt by a devastating earthquake portable electrical power stations, tents and blankets, as well as essentials," the press service said in a statement.

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake happened on the territory of Myanmar on March 28. Shocks were felt in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Laos and China. The total death toll in Myanmar has exceeded 2,000 people, the number of those injured is nearing 4,000.