Recently, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar causing severe damage in Mandalay and affecting neighboring countries.
About the Myanmar Earthquake
The Myanmar Earthquake is the strongest globally in two years, and was followed by multiple aftershocks.
Parts of Northeast India also felt tremors, but no major casualties or damage were reported.
The epicenter was 17.2 km from Mandalay, at a shallow depth of 10 km, intensifying the damage.
The shallow depth (10 km) of the recent earthquake intensified its ground shaking, leading to widespread destruction.
Shallower earthquakes cause greater surface damage compared to deeper ones.
Impact of the Earthquake
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program estimated potential fatalities between 10,000 and 100,000.
Economic losses up to 70% of Myanmar’s GDP.
The central region of Myanmar, where the recent quake struck, is less accustomed to large earthquakes, worsening the impact.
Frequency of Earthquakes in Myanmar
Myanmar has experienced at least six earthquakes above magnitude 7 since 1900.
Notable earthquakes:
1990 (Magnitude 7.0): 32 buildings collapsed.
1912 (Magnitude 7.9): Near the recent earthquake’s epicenter.
2016 (Magnitude 6.9): Affected the same region.
Over the last 100 years, Myanmar has recorded 14 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above.
The 1839 earthquake (Magnitude 8.3) was one of the most destructive, killing 300-400 people.
Earthquake due to tectonic activity
The Earth’s lithosphere consists of moving tectonic plates, interacting over billions of years.
Earthquakes occur when plates slip past each other,releasing stored seismic energy.
Factors Responsible for Frequent Earthquakes in Myanmar
Myanmar’s location between two tectonic plates : The location between the India and Eurasia plates places it at particular risk of earthquakes.
The boundary between the two plates is called the Sagaing Fault
Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault is a major north-south fault line, highly prone to seismic activity.
It marks the tectonic boundary between the Indian Plate (moving north) and the Eurasian Plate.
The recent earthquake was caused by strike-slip faulting, where the plates move sideways against each other.
Earthquakes affect regions beyond the epicenter due to seismic waves spreading along the fault line.
India’s Response to the Myanmar Earthquake
Operation Brahma : India delivered 15 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar using a C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force under operation Brahma.
Rescue Support: India deployed 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to assist in rescue and relief operations in quake-hit areas.
Humanitarian Assistance: Alongside China and Russia, India extended immediate aid, reaffirming its commitment to regional disaster response and support.
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format Integration of PYQ within the booklet Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format Integration of PYQ within the booklet Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
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