The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region on Friday caused massive destruction across central Myanmar and even shook buildings as far as Bangkok, Thailand. Experts say the combination of location, geology, and shallow depth made the quake particularly deadly.
Why is Myanmar so earthquake-prone?
Myanmar sits along the boundary of two major tectonic plates—the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate—making it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. The plates slide past each other in a horizontal motion, known as a “strike-slip” fault. While not as intense as subduction zone quakes (like in Sumatra), they can still reach magnitudes of 7 to 8.
According to Professor Joanna Faure Walker of University College London, this tectonic boundary runs north to south through Myanmar, cutting right through the middle of the country.
Why was this earthquake so destructive?
This quake was likely the strongest to hit Myanmar’s mainland in nearly 75 years, according to seismologist Bill McGuire. What made it particularly damaging was its shallow depth—only 10 km (6.2 miles) below the surface—meaning seismic waves had little distance to travel before reaching buildings and infrastructure, intensifying the impact.
Roger Musson of the British Geological Survey emphasized that shallow quakes deliver the full force of shaking to structures above them, and this one affected a fault line running through a densely populated area near Mandalay.
Was Myanmar prepared?
Unfortunately, no. Because large quakes are relatively rare in the Sagaing region, many buildings were not designed to withstand strong seismic activity. The last major quake in the area occurred in 1956, meaning older infrastructure likely didn’t meet modern earthquake-resistant standards.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, fatalities could range from 10,000 to 100,000, with potential economic losses up to 70% of Myanmar’s GDP—a reflection of both the disaster’s scale and the country’s vulnerability.