Myanmar Earthquake 2025: Causes, Impact & Preparedness

29-03-2025

04:45 AM

1 min read

What’s in Today’s Article?

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, causing buildings to collapse in Mandalay and bringing down a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok.
The quake, the strongest globally in two years, was followed by at least three aftershocks. The epicenter was 17.2 km from Mandalay at a shallow depth of 10 km.

The Earth's lithosphere consists of tectonic plates that have been moving for billions of years.
Earthquakes occur when these plates suddenly slip past each other, releasing stored energy as seismic waves, causing the ground to shake.

The Myanmar earthquake was caused by strike-slip faulting between the Indian and Eurasian plates, where the plates moved sideways against each other.

The earthquake occurred on the Sagaing Fault, a north-south fault line in Myanmar known for seismic activity.
This fault marks the boundary between the Indian plate (moving north) and the Eurasian plate.
The movement along this fault triggered the earthquake.

Myanmar frequently experiences earthquakes due to the Sagaing Fault.
Since 1900, at least six earthquakes of magnitude greater than 7 have occurred near this fault, according to USGS data.

January 1990 (Magnitude 7.0)
February 1912 (Magnitude 7.9): Occurred just south of the epicenter of the recent quake.
2016 (Magnitude 6.9): Struck in roughly the same area.

Over the past 100 years, Myanmar has witnessed 14 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above.

One of the worst earthquakes in the region occurred in 1839, estimated at magnitude 8.3.
This event is considered the best recent analogue for the March 28, 2025, earthquake.

Largest Quake in Decades
- The recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake was likely the strongest in Myanmar’s mainland in 75 years.
- Previous significant quakes caused casualties but were less severe.
Shallow Depth Intensified Damage
- The quake occurred at a shallow depth of just 10 km, meaning the seismic shockwaves did not dissipate before reaching the surface.
- This resulted in stronger ground shaking and greater structural damage.
Widespread Impact Beyond Epicenter
- Experts emphasized that seismic waves radiate from the entire fault line, not just the epicenter, affecting a much larger area.

High Fatality and Economic Risk
- The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program estimated potential fatalities between 10,000 and 100,000, with economic losses possibly reaching 70% of Myanmar’s GDP.
Infrastructure Not Built for Large Quakes
- Myanmar has not experienced a major earthquake in this region since 1956, leading to poor seismic preparedness.
- Buildings, especially in densely populated Mandalay, were not designed to withstand such powerful tremors.
Geographic Factors
- Most earthquakes in Myanmar occur west of the Sagaing Fault, while this one struck the central region, which is less accustomed to high-magnitude quakes, further worsening the impact.

Q1. What caused the Myanmar earthquake in 2025?

Ans. It resulted from strike-slip faulting along the Sagaing Fault due to movement between the Indian and Eurasian plates.

Q2. How strong was the Myanmar earthquake in 2025?

Ans. It was a 7.7-magnitude quake, the strongest in Myanmar’s mainland in 75 years.

Q3. Why was the Myanmar earthquake so destructive?

Ans. The shallow depth (10 km) intensified shaking, causing severe structural damage in Mandalay and beyond.

Q4. How often do earthquakes occur in Myanmar?

Ans. Myanmar frequently experiences earthquakes; since 1900, at least six magnitude 7+ quakes have occurred near the Sagaing Fault.

Q5. What are Myanmar’s earthquake preparedness challenges?

Ans. Myanmar lacks strong seismic infrastructure, making buildings vulnerable to major quakes..

Source: IE | TH | NDTV