YANGON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The President's Office of Myanmar has formed a 23-member National Natural Disaster Preparedness Central Committee, the next move in wake of possible strike on the country by severe cyclonic storm Mahasen in the next 48 hours.
According to an announcement of the office published Wednesday, the committee was set up with the Second Vice President as Chairman involving some 19 ministers, aimed at carrying out preparedness and safety measures for possible danger of natural disaster in the country and ensuring prompt and effective risk response in time of emergency, the announcement said.
The committee is tasked to lay out policy and directives for the use of domestic forces in face of natural disaster as necessary and formulate basic principles for appealing for international assistance.
The committee is also to supervise relief work in the aftermath of disaster.
The President's Office also formed a nine-member National Natural Disaster Preparedness Management Work Committee with the Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement as Chairman.
According to the observations on Tuesday afternoon, cyclonic storm Mahasen over West central Bay of Bengal was centered at about 816 kilometers southwest of Sittway, 832 km southwest of Pathein, 832 km southwest of Kyaukphyu and 384 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam (India).
Coded at orange stage, the cyclonic storm Mahasen is moving northeastwards with maximum wind speed being estimated 96 kilometers per hour near the cyclone center.
It is likely to move cross between northern part of Myanmar's Rakhine state and Bangladesh coast on Thursday evening.
Preparations against the possible severe storm have been underway in Rakhine coastal areas with storm warning being issued across townships, wards and villages in the state ahead of the storm.
Thousands of local people residing along the Rakhine coast, especially Sittway, the capital of the state, have been evacuated onto hills as of Monday evening in wake of repeated cyclonic storm warning over the last few days.
Coastal shipping has been suspended at this time by the authorities..
Meanwhile, President U Thein Sein called for preventive and relief measures without racial and religious discrimination.
"Life-saving is a must," he stressed.
Vice-President U Nyan Tun, Chairman of National Natural Disaster Preparedness Central Committee, has been assigned to lead an administrative team based in an area of Rakhine State starting Tuesday to carry out close supervision against the possible disaster.
Meanwhile, the military claimed to have placed planes, helicopters, vessels, and vehicles alert under command in case of emergency. Medical teams and other supportive teams have also been formed.
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