Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The six strong earthquakes that rocked Myanmar on Friday occurred along the country’s longest fault line, the Sagaing Fault, which has a known history of generating major seismic events. Speaking to ANI, National Centre for Seismology (NCS) Director Dr OP Mishra said, “This is not the first time an earthquake above magnitude 7 has occurred in this region.”
The initial 7.2-magnitude quake struck at 11:50 am IST at a shallow depth of 10 km, followed closely by a 7.0-magnitude aftershock just 12 minutes later.
Series of Aftershocks and Risk of Damage
Following the two main quakes, aftershocks of magnitudes 5.0, 4.9, 4.4, and 4.3 were recorded in the hours that followed. Dr Mishra stated that the depths of the primary tremors ranged between 20 to 30 km, making them more destructive due to shallow energy release.
Impact Felt in Bangkok
The seismic waves extended as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where the rupture of the Sagaing Fault affected buildings, especially in the city’s alluvial zones, which are prone to liquefaction. “The tremors were strongly felt in Bangkok, where some buildings could not withstand the shock,” Dr Mishra said.
Monitoring Continues for More Aftershocks
The NCS has stated that the full count of aftershocks will be available in the next 24 hours as seismic activity is continuously being monitored.
The Sagaing Fault, which runs 1,200 km through Myanmar, has long been identified as a significant seismic hazard. This latest cluster of earthquakes has once again brought global attention to the region’s vulnerability.
