The Information We Have on the Myanmar Earthquake

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and nearly 2,400 injuries. The earthquake caused significant destruction in Myanmar, with reports of collapsed buildings and infrastructure damage. The impact of the earthquake extended to neighboring countries such as Thailand, where at least nine people were killed when a high-rise building under construction collapsed in Bangkok. The earthquake was felt as far as China, Bangladesh, and other countries in the region, with reports of damage to buildings in Yunnan Province, China.

The epicenter of the earthquake was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, located in a seismic zone prone to powerful earthquakes. Central Myanmar lies on the eastern end of the Alpide Belt, making it susceptible to seismic activity. The quake struck at a shallow depth of six miles, resulting in violent shaking and devastation near the Sagaing Fault. The region has a history of powerful earthquakes, with three quakes of magnitude 7.7 or greater recorded in or near Myanmar in the last century.

Despite limited information and censorship from Myanmar’s military government, the earthquake’s impact was expected to be most severe in the country. The city of Mandalay, with a population of 1.5 million, likely experienced significant damage. Strong tremors were also felt in neighboring Thailand, prompting Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to declare Bangkok an “area of emergency.” China and Bangladesh also felt the earthquake, with reports of damage in Yunnan Province, China.

Myanmar’s military government reported the death toll from the earthquake at 1,002, with thousands injured. The full extent of the damage was challenging to assess due to censorship and isolation, but the number of casualties was expected to rise. In Thailand, at least nine people died in the collapse of a high-rise building in Bangkok, with more feared buried under the rubble. International aid began arriving in Myanmar, with countries like China, India, and the United States sending food, blankets, and rescue teams to assist in the search and rescue efforts.

The areas most affected by the earthquake are controlled by the military junta, which made a rare appeal for international assistance and declared a state of emergency in six regions. Previous disasters in Myanmar, such as Cyclone Mocha and Cyclone Nargis, were met with limited international aid due to the government’s reluctance to seek help. Rebel-controlled areas farther from the epicenter appeared relatively unscathed, but information from these regions was slow to emerge. Countries like Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and others offered or sent aid in the form of personnel, equipment, and funds to support Myanmar in the aftermath of the earthquake.