Myanmar Earthquake Kills Over 1,000: Understanding the Strike-Slip Fault Behind the Disaster
- Admin
- Mar 29
- 3 min read
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, has surpassed 1,000, with over 2,300 people injured, according to the country’s ruling military government. The 7.7-magnitude quake, followed by a 6.4 aftershock, jolted the war-torn country and parts of neighboring Thailand, causing widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure.
International Aid Efforts Underway
On Saturday, March 29, international aid began arriving in Myanmar, a country already battered by four years of civil war. India dispatched aid packages along with search-and-rescue and medical teams. A Chinese team of 37 experts landed in Yangon, Myanmar’s former capital, equipped with medicine and life-detection equipment. Russia and the United States have also offered assistance.
Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, warned that the casualty count is expected to rise significantly. On Friday, he announced that at least 144 people were confirmed dead, with 730 injured—a figure that rapidly grew overnight.
What Caused the Massive Earthquake?
Earthquakes occur when massive slabs of the Earth’s crust, known as tectonic plates, shift against each other. As these plates move at different speeds and directions, pressure builds up. When this pressure is released, it triggers seismic waves, causing the ground to shake.
Myanmar is highly prone to earthquakes due to its location at the boundary between two major tectonic plates—the India Plate and the Eurasia Plate. The fault line running through this region is known as the Sagaing Fault, which stretches approximately 1,200 kilometers from north to south, passing through major cities like Mandalay and Yangon.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that Friday's earthquake was caused by strike-slip faulting along this boundary. In this type of faulting, two tectonic plates grind against each other horizontally, rather than vertically. Japan’s Meteorological Agency also verified that the quake involved horizontal land movement, a hallmark of strike-slip faults.
Why Did This Quake Cause So Much Damage?
The earthquake’s shallow depth—just 10 km below the surface—amplified its destructive power. Seismic waves from shallow quakes cause more intense ground shaking than those from deeper earthquakes, making them particularly devastating.
Dr. Roger Musson, a seismology expert at the British Geological Survey, explained that because the quake occurred at a shallow depth, buildings endured the full force of the tremors. This significantly increased the scale of destruction.
Experts warn that the death toll could continue to rise sharply. The USGS estimates that the casualties could range between 10,000 and 100,000 people, with economic losses potentially reaching up to 70% of Myanmar’s GDP.
Why Myanmar’s Infrastructure is Vulnerable
Myanmar’s infrastructure is not earthquake-resilient, making the damage even more severe. Large earthquakes are rare in the Sagaing region, with the last major one recorded in 1956. As a result, most buildings were not constructed to withstand strong seismic forces, making them highly vulnerable.
Dr. Rebecca Bell, a tectonics expert at Imperial College London, compared the Sagaing Fault to California's San Andreas Fault, which caused the deadly 1994 Northridge earthquake. She explained that the straight nature of the Sagaing Fault allows large areas to rupture during quakes, resulting in more widespread damage.
The Growing Humanitarian Crisis
The earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Sagaing region near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. This area has suffered heavy casualties and destruction. According to the BBC, at least 1,002 people have died, with 2,376 injured and 30 still missing.
USGS projections estimate that around 800,000 people may have been in the areas most affected by the quake. Given the scale of the destruction and Myanmar’s limited resources, experts fear the country could face a crisis similar to the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, which killed over 50,000 people and flattened entire cities.
Conclusion
The Myanmar earthquake serves as a tragic reminder of the destructive power of shallow, high-magnitude quakes. With thousands already dead or injured, and many more feared trapped under the rubble, the country faces an escalating humanitarian crisis. As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the full scale of the disaster is yet to be realized.
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