On Friday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar. A 10-kilometre deep tremor at the epicentre around 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Monywa city in central Myanmar was recorded, as Germany’s GFZ Center for Geosciences reported. Temporary reports indicate that no significant casualties were reported, as well as no injury or other damage, but the extent of damage is not known.
The tremors were felt strongly in neighbouring Thailand, with Katthum being in the greater Bangkok area that is home to over 17 million people. Such seismic activity triggers panic among residents who inhabit high-rise apartments and hotels. Citizens startled out of buildings rushed out, seeking safety on deserted streets where they waited under the midday sun for proof they had survived the peril.
Water sloshed out of swimming pools in high-rise buildings, according to eyewitnesses, as the tremors were so strong they created swells in water in the pools. Some office complexes and residential towers were evacuated amid swaying structures due to the quake’s impact. Thailand is not normally riven by strong earthquakes, but tremors from its neighbour, Myanmar, sometimes shake its cities.
As Myanmar itself is currently suffering civil unrest, there is little certainty surrounding the effects of the earthquake. With communication challenges in conflict-affected areas, it is likely that authorities and disaster response teams are already assessing the situation.
Myanmar (formerly Burma) lies along the junction between the Eurasian and Indo-Australian tectonic plates and is very seismically active. Authorities in this region and international geological agencies are closely monitoring the situation.
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