Myanmar’s devastating earthquake has captured international attention, not just for its scale, but for its profound impact on the already crisis-stricken nation. Here’s why this natural disaster turned deadly, according to scientists and seismologists.
A Nation in Turmoil
The tragedy struck at around 7.7-magnitude, hitting near Mandalay. This was the strongest quake in Myanmar’s mainland history in the past 75 years. The aftermath has been staggering, with around 1,700 lives lost, over 3,400 injured, and more than 300 people missing. These numbers highlight the unimaginable scale of disruption in a region already reeling from political instability since the 2021 military coup. The economic consequences could potentially exceed the nation’s annual output, as estimated by the U.S. Geological Service.
The Science of Destruction
The earthquake’s primary cause was identified as “strike-slip faulting” along the India and Eurasia plates, explained Bill McGuire from University College London (UCL). Unlike a focused epicenter, the devastating effects were spread out over a vast area—around 200 km long and 20 km wide. This broad zone rupture intensified the shaking felt on the surface.
The Sagaing Fault’s Lethal Legacy
Rebecca Bell of Imperial College London emphasized the quake’s classification as a strike-slip event along the infamous Sagaing Fault. This fault mirrors the infamous San Andreas Fault in California both in length, around 1,200 km, and movement activity. The longer the rupture, the stronger the seismic impact, with minimal energy dissipation before surface impact. The region has seen multiple high-magnitude quakes since 1900, including the notorious 7.9 earthquake in 1912, which dramatically accelerated preparedness discourse.
Shallow Seismic Shockwaves
Adding a layer to the devastation, Roger Musson from the British Geological Survey pointed out the shallow depth of the earthquake, merely 10 km beneath the surface. This factor left little room for energy to dissipate, forcing buildings and infrastructures to absorb the full brunt of the tremors.
Propagation Beyond the Epicenter
In Musson’s assessment, the quake’s destructive capability stems from its propagation across the entire length of the fault, not from a single point. Such characteristics illustrate not only tectonic dynamics but also emphasize Myanmar’s urgent need for resilience against seismic threats.
This calamitous event serves as a reeling reminder of the intersection between natural disasters and geopolitical boundaries, as stated in Hindustan Times. With widespread implications, the aftermath urges a global approach to mitigation and preparedness not only in Myanmar but in regions sharing similar tectonic vulnerabilities.