Myanmar shadow government says 12 killed in quake, urgent international help needed

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has killed at least 12 people and urgent international assistance is needed, the war-torn country's shadow foreign minister told Reuters on Friday.

Zin Mar Aung, the top diplomat of the parallel National Unity Government, said troops from the anti-junta militias, known as the People's Defence Forces, would be providing humanitarian help.

"It's very serious, we need humanitarian and technical assistance from the international community," Zin Mar Aung said in a phone interview, adding communications was a major challenge, including internet restrictions imposed by the junta in a hard-hit area.