Red Cross Says Death Toll in Myanmar Quake Hits 26

The Red Cross says the death toll has risen to 26 from an earthquake that damaged homes and ancient Buddhist pagodas in northern Myanmar.

The Red Cross said in a statement Tuesday that another 231 people were hurt in Sunday’s magnitude-6.8 quake in the underdeveloped mining region. Myanmar has a poor official disaster response system and lost upward of 140,000 people to a devastating cyclone in 2008.

The Red Cross says it provided aid to some families and is still assessing needs but that no external assistance will likely be needed.

Myanmar’s second-biggest city of Mandalay is the nearest population center to the quake but reported no casualties or major damage. It is 117 kilometers (72 miles) south of the epicenter near the town of Shwebo.