YANGON, Jan. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar and Chinese experts will conduct a joint study in April of the detailed nature of the earthquake belt and igneous rocks lying in Myanmar's extinct volcanoes, local press Flower News reported in its latest issue.

    Estimating that Myanmar's volcano belt is linked with that of China's Yunnan province, the two sides will study the quake belt of three died-out volcanoes and igneous rocks in Myanmar, near theWundo area where northernmost Kachin state and northwestern Sagaing division meet, the Meteorology and Hydrology Department (MHD) was quoted as saying.

    It will be the second time for the two countries' experts to carry out such activities since last November in collaboration with personnel from the Myanmar Engineers' Association, MHD, Yangon University and Technical College.

    During the last study involving geologists from Tengchong Earthquake Administration of Yunnan and covering Popa, Monywa, Sagaing and Shwebo, 30 igneous rocks were taken for laboratory analysis, the report said.

    According to Myanmar officials, Myanmar is a country located onthe Alphide Himalaya earthquake belt with frequent activities in the past.

    In April 2003, China presented two sets of digital seismographsto Myanmar to help promote the country's seismographic activities.

    Meanwhile, Myanmar has laid down a project to draw a geologicalmicro-zonation indicator map for Yangon to guide building construction work in the capital as a precaution against quake. The project will take at least one year and will be extended to other major cities of Mandalay, Bago and Phyu.

    Myanmar is also undertaking a coastal storm and tidal surge forecast project for improving weather forecast services. The project, being implemented with the assistance of the Honolulu-based PACON International (the Pacific Congress on Marine Science Technology), involves the utilization of numerical prediction method to provide advance warning of storm and tidal surge.

    It is officially reported that the country was registered with 64 people killed, 56 injured in coastal areas in the tsunami on Dec. 26. The tidal wave destroyed over 600 houses in 29 villages, leaving 3,460 people homeless in some of the regions in six divisions and states -- Tanintharyi, Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Rakhine and Shan (South).

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