Today's Edition
Washington (AFP)
President Donald Trump on Friday vowed the United States would assist Myanmar after it was hit by a huge earthquake, following a rare plea for aid by the Southeast Asian nation's ruling junta.
"It's terrible," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office about the quake when asked if he would respond to the appeal by Myanmar.
"It's a real bad one, and we will be helping. We've already spoken with the country."
The huge 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, killing more than 150 people and injuring hundreds.
Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing had earlier invited "any country, any organization" to help with relief, in a speech aired on state media.
Myanmar's infrastructure and health care system is ill-equipped to respond to such a disaster.
The United States has in recent years been pressing Myanmar's rulers for progress on key concerns such as freeing political prisoners and reducing violence.
