Casualties and widespread tremors across multiple nations
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, sending strong tremors across China, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of India. The impact was severe, causing significant casualties and structural damage.
At least 20 people have died at a major hospital in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, while three people lost their lives in Bangkok after an under-construction high-rise collapsed. More than 80 individuals are feared trapped under the debris.
Earthquake epicenter and strength
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located 16 kilometers northwest of Myanmar’s Sagaing. The tremors in Bangkok, Thailand, were recorded at 1:21 pm local time, marking the strongest earthquake felt globally since 2023, Bloomberg reported.
Why was the earthquake so strong?
Experts attribute the devastating strength of the quake to the Sagaing Fault, Myanmar’s longest fault line, spanning approximately 1,200 kilometers.
“…It occurred at the longest fault in Myanmar, the Sagaing Fault. Its length is 1,200 km. This fault has generated several earthquakes in the past of magnitude more than 7,” said OP Mishra, director of the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), in a statement to ANI.
A seismic-prone zone with multiple aftershocks
Mishra explained that the region is highly susceptible to seismic activity, increasing the likelihood of powerful earthquakes.
“Its depth was in the shallow range, between 20-30 km… When the main shock occurred at 11:50 am, around 12 noon, the earthquake generated an aftershock of magnitude 7… Between 12:30 pm and 1 pm, another aftershock of magnitude 5 occurred,” Mishra stated.
“There was an aftershock of 4.9, too. It means that three aftershocks have already occurred,” he added.
Why did the earthquake cause damage in Bangkok?
The extent of damage in Bangkok is linked to the direction of the seismic rupture.
“The damage in Bangkok, a city in Thailand, occurred because the Sagaing Fault’s rupture headed towards Bangkok; several people felt the tremors there,” Mishra explained.
“It is the alluvial belt of Bangkok where chances of liquefaction are quite high… Buildings were not able to withstand it, so there was damage there… Within 24 hours, we will get to know how many aftershocks came…” he added.