Myanmar earthquake 'like a giant knife cutting into the Earth'

A building in Myanmar damaged by an earthquake - Photo: GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), on March 28, Myanmar suffered a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7. The epicenter was located at a depth of 10km, near the city of Sagaing.

Twelve minutes later, Myanmar was rocked by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock. At least 25 people have died in the country so far.

Sagaing Fault

Myanmar is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. On the Global Seismic Risk Map, Myanmar is in the red zone, meaning it has a moderate to high risk of earthquakes.

The Sagaing Fault is considered the main source of earthquake risk in Myanmar. This is a large fault about 1,200km long, running north-south across Myanmar.

The fault has been linked to several major earthquakes in the past, including a magnitude 7.7 quake in 1946 and a magnitude 6.8 one in 2012.

According to researcher Shengji Wei from the Earth Observatory of Singapore, the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar occurred along a section of the Sagaing fault.

"This area has been quiet for about 200 years. Based on historical studies as well as modern geophysical surveys, we know that this area, this fault, is likely to rupture strongly and cause a major earthquake in the near future," Wei, who has been studying seismic risk in Myanmar for a decade, told CNN.

The researcher said he had reported the risk to Myanmar authorities and local scientists.

Also sharing with CNN, seismologist James Jackson from Cambridge University (UK) said the earthquake was caused by a fault that lasted for 1 minute, causing horizontal displacement on the ground.

"Imagine a piece of paper being torn at about 2km/second. This earthquake moved a fault, like a giant knife cutting into the Earth," he said.

He also noted that while Bangkok, Thailand, is not in an earthquake zone, its high-rise buildings make it particularly vulnerable to distant tremors.

Myanmar's earthquake also shook Thailand and Vietnam. In Thailand, at least three people were killed and 81 were missing when a building under construction in Bangkok collapsed following a strong earthquake.

Warning of aftershocks from Myanmar earthquake

Large cracks appear on Myanmar streets after earthquake - Photo: MYANMAR NOW

"Myanmar is no stranger to earthquakes. The boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates runs north-south, cutting through the middle of the country. The two plates move at different speeds along the transform boundary," said Professor Joanna Faure Walker, an expert in earthquake geology and disaster risk reduction at University College London (UCL), according to Science Media Centre.

She added that although strike-slip earthquakes of this type are typically smaller in magnitude than the largest earthquakes seen in subduction zones, such as those in southern Sumatra, they can still reach magnitudes of 7 to 8, causing severe damage, as seen in today's earthquake in Myanmar.

Professor Bill McGuire, emeritus professor of geophysical hazards and climate at UCL, said this could be the strongest earthquake to hit mainland Myanmar in 75 years. He also said the combination of its size and very shallow depth would increase the level of destruction.

“There has been a major aftershock and there could be more. These will threaten to collapse weakened buildings, making rescue work much more difficult,” he warned.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dong-dat-o-myanmar-nhu-nhat-dao-khong-lo-cat-vao-trai-dat-20250328191018581.htm