BEIJING: China will provide earthquake-stricken Myanmar with 100 million yuan (RM61 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to support its earthquake relief efforts, the China International Development Cooperation Agency said on Saturday.

The announcement came a day after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, resulting in significant casualties and property damage.

At the request of the Myanmar government, China will also send two rescue teams and supply tents, blankets, first-aid kits, food and drinking water – items that are urgently needed in affected areas, said spokesperson for the agency Li Ming.

The first batch of supplies is scheduled for delivery on Monday, according to the agency. China will offer further assistance based on Myanmar’s needs, it added.

China dispatched a search and rescue team to Myanmar’s earthquake-stricken areas on Saturday morning.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, the rescue team has already departed from Beijing on a chartered Air China flight heading to the disaster areas.

According to a news release from the Ministry of Emergency Management, the Chinese rescue team consists of 82 members.

They are equipped with rescue gear and materials to make every effort to assist Myanmar in emergency rescue and relief efforts, it said.

Meanwhile, a group of 16 Chinese volunteers set off for the quake-hit Myanmar on Saturday morning to provide assistance in disaster relief and rescue efforts.

The volunteers, all experienced members of the Blue Sky Rescue team – a Chinese civil relief squad – departed from Ruili City in Southwest China’s Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, at around 9.30 am.

Equipped with emergency relief supplies, including first aid kits, power generation and lighting facilities, and demolition tools, they travelled in a convoy of five vehicles.

“We are the first team and will be followed by a second and a third team,” said Gao Hengyi, head of the Ruili branch of BSR.

They followed a 37-member rescue team sent by Yunnan province, which arrived in Myanmar earlier on Saturday morning.