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Almost everyone was safe and accounted for, he was told, except for a distant great-aunt who died in Mandalay – and his Oo Oo.

“It’s pretty usual for us in Humboldt County to get earthquakes,” said Chappelle, who is the innkeeper of Hydrangea Inn, which was built by her great-aunt in the 1930s.

I’m a great-aunt to the children but they have little names for me, like a grandma.

"Charmian was a much-loved aunt and great-aunt and a dear friend to many. At 96 she was still full of life and energy and fiercely independent," they said.

His great-aunt, a fervent DPP supporter, once called him in a rage, demanding to know why he was taking money from Beijing.