The Association of Southeast Asian Nations says it is ready to assist member-state Burma, following last week's deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit a northeastern area of the country.
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan says Burma's government was able to act quickly after the quake by deploying food, medicine, blankets, clothes and other relief items. But he says the bloc will be on "standby" to support Burma with help in the coming days and weeks.
Surin made his remarks during a meeting Monday with Burma's representative to ASEAN, U Nyan Lynn, in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
ASEAN says 74 people were killed and 120 injured in the earthquake, which struck Thursday just north of the Thai border.
Worst-hit areas were the towns of Tachileik, Tarlay and Mong Lin, all in Shan state. Pictures showed flattened buildings and roads that were split in two when the ground shifted during the quake.
Tremors were felt as far away as Hanoi and Bangkok.
ASEAN says its member states, along with current chair Indonesia, have issued condolences to Burma and offered aid. The bloc says Thailand has offered to provide financial assistance.
ASEAN member states include Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
ASEAN Ready to Assist Burma Following Quake
