Myanmar’s military junta chief Min Aung Fröning is in Thailand for a regional summit as the country was caught up in the earthquake that killed thousands of people in abandoned and left the city.
The earthquake in central Myanmar last Friday killed 3,085 people and injured 4,715 people, Junta said. Hundreds are missing more, and tolls are expected to rise.
According to AFP, Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok on Thursday. This is the eve of the summit, bringing together leaders from seven countries adjacent to the Bay of Bengal.
His attendance, previously confirmed by a Myanmar Armed Forces spokesman, would be unusual as licensed leaders are usually banned from these events.
The earthquake was felt and 21 people were killed, Host Tai proposed that the leaders issue a joint statement on the disaster. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are also part of the summit.
In Myanmar, the number of deaths is unlikely to be accurate as authorities have yet to reach many earthquake impact areas.
Countries around the world have sent aid and rescue teams to Myanmar since the earthquake, but poor infrastructure and ongoing civil war have complicated relief efforts.
The junta announced a temporary ceasefire late Wednesday to promote these efforts after previously rejecting proposals from armed ethnic rebels.
The military had been continuing airstrikes in rebel regions, including areas that were hit hard by the earthquake.
On Tuesday night, the troops fired on a Chinese Red Cross fleet carrying relief supplies. The junta said the troops were fired after the convoy refused to halt despite being signaled to do so.
According to a spokesman for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Min Aung Frening is also expected to speak to Prime Minister Patong Tarn Sinawatra, who is a bystander of the meeting in Bangkok.
Myanmar has been plagued by a bloody civil war since the military came to power in 2021, which has led to the rise of armed resistance that has fought alongside armed ethnic groups.
Years of violence have crippled the economy, caused supercharged inflation, and put the country in a humanitarian crisis.
Now, earthquakes are exacerbating the crisis. Humanitarian groups urged them to support the remaining obstacles in the junta.
The United Nations also urged the global community to strengthen its aid before the monsoon season hit in about a month.
