Myanmar Junta Pushes Ahead With Thingyan Festival as Quake Toll Soars

Myanmar’s military regime has given the go-ahead for traditional Thingyan New Year festivities this month, despite the rising death toll from Friday’s devastating earthquake in the war-torn country.

In a statement on Tuesday, the junta acknowledged the severe impact of the earthquake, which caused thousands of deaths and widespread destruction across Naypyitaw, Sagaing, Bago, Magwe, Mandalay, and Shan State.

Despite the national mourning, Thingyan celebrations would proceed, though without the usual singing and dancing, the statement said.