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Myanmar Earthquake
Context:
On 28 March, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 and at least six aftershocks struck central Myanmar, causing widespread devastation, particularly in the country’s second-largest city, Mandalay.
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- The earthquake has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 144 lives. The shockwaves were also felt in neighbouring Thailand, where an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok collapsed, killing at least nine people.
- Parts of Northeast India also experienced tremors, but no significant damage or casualties were reported there.
The Earth’s outermost layer, called the lithosphere, is composed of several large tectonic plates that move slowly over time. Earthquakes happen when these plates suddenly slip past one another, releasing energy stored up as “elastic strain”, which then causes seismic waves that shake the ground.
Epicenter and Impact
- The epicentre of the earthquake was located 17.2 km from Mandalay, a city with a population of approximately 1.5 million people.
- The earthquake was relatively shallow, with a depth of only 10 km, and was recognised as the strongest earthquake globally in the past two years by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- The destruction in Myanmar has been significant, with buildings collapsing and widespread fear across the affected regions.
What Caused the Earthquake?
- The earthquake occurred due to the interaction between tectonic plates.
- The Myanmar earthquake was caused by strike-slip faulting between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. In simple terms, the two plates rubbed sideways against each other, leading to the release of energy.
- Specifically, the quake occurred along the Sagaing Fault, which runs through the centre of Myanmar from north to south.
- The Sagaing Fault is well-known for being seismically active and is prone to earthquakes due to the constant movement of the Indian Plate, which is moving northward compared to the Eurasian Plate.
- According to Bill McGuire, a professor at University College London, the Sagaing Fault represents the tectonic boundary between these two plates.
Historical Context of Earthquakes in Myanmar
- Myanmar is no stranger to seismic activity, especially due to the Sagaing Fault. Since 1900, at least six earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater have occurred in the vicinity of the Sagaing Fault. Some notable past events include:
- A magnitude 7 earthquake in January 1990, which caused the collapse of 32 buildings.
- A magnitude 7.9 earthquake in February 1912, just south of Friday’s earthquake epicentre.
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake in 2016, also in roughly the same area.
- Over the last 100 years, Myanmar has experienced 14 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater, making it a region prone to significant seismic events.
- One of the most significant events in the region’s history occurred in 1839, with an estimated magnitude of 8.3. This earthquake is believed to have killed 300-400 people and is considered a possible reference point for understanding the intensity of the recent earthquake.
