The Belgian Foreign Ministry says that a Belgian that died on Monday in the Thai capital Bangkok die not die as a consequence of the earthquake that struck Southeast Asia. However, the cause of the Belgian’s death is still unclear.
In a press statement released on Monday night, the Belgian Foreign Ministry said that “Based on the information we currently have we have no knowledge of any Belgian victims of the earthquake in Southeast Asia”.
Belgian diplomats in Thailand are following developments related to the Belgian’s death closely. Both consular staff in Bangkok and Foreign Ministry officials in Brussels are offering help and support to the deceased Belgian’s family. The Foreign Ministry is refraining from comment about the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their death.
Francophone media report that the deceased was a tourist on holiday in Southeast Asia at the time of the earthquake.
The earthquake that measured 7.7 on the Richter scale has already claimed at least 2,000 lives. The quake primarily affected Myanmar and Thailand, but was also felt in in Laos and China.