BATU KAWAN, March 29- Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the state was not affected by the earthquake that struck Myanmar yesterday.

According to him, the Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) conducted monitoring and inspections of several high-rise buildings in the state following the earthquake.

He explained that the fire department is always providing the latest information to his team regarding the tremors.

" The inspection work is important. And so far, I think Penang is still not affected by the incident that occurred yesterday," he told reporters after the Batu Kawan Parliamentary Rahmah Madani Sale Program in Simpang Ampat here.

Yesterday, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook Myanmar, causing deaths and major damage to buildings and public infrastructure.

The tremors also hit Thailand, causing a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok to collapse.

The tremors were also felt by some Malaysians, especially in Kedah, Penang and Kelantan.