The Thailand earthquake, which originated in the Sagaing area of Myanmar, reached a magnitude of 7.7 and is classified as a major earthquake. Despite the epicenter being 600 miles away from Bangkok, the city suffered significant damage, while most damage remained restricted to Myanmar.
The Thailand earthquake caused the deaths of more than 150 people, with 144 deaths in Myanmar and at least 10 in Thailand. There are still more than 101 people missing from the collapsed building in Bangkok. The earthquake wasn’t limited to just Myanmar and Thailand, as tremors were felt in other countries like China, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Myanmar Faces Devastation as a Bridge and Monastery Collapse and a Dam Bursts
In the Sagaing region of Myanmar, just above the epicenter, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, while some sections of the national highway were also damaged. The highway connects Mandalay with Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon.
Just a few miles from the epicenter, the Thailand earthquake wreaked havoc in Mandalay, Myanmar. The earthquake brought down the Ma Soe Yane Monastery, one of the largest monasteries in Myanmar, and also damaged the former royal palace.
Some lowland areas of Mandalay were submerged underwater due to the collapse of a local dam. The military government of Myanmar has declared a national emergency and locked down part of Mandalay as rescue operations continue.
What Caused the Thailand Earthquake?
According to reports, the Thailand earthquake occurred along the Sagaing Fault or the Three Pagoda Fault on the Thai-Myanmar border. The area is an active hotspot for tectonic plate movements along the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Although Thailand falls within a low earthquake zone, it is still affected by 11 seismic fault zones and more than 50 active faults. While the recent Thailand earthquake, at a magnitude of 7.7, is rare, weak to moderate earthquakes, usually ranging below 6.0 in magnitude, are quite common in this area.
However, the situation in Myanmar is different. Myanmar lies in an active seismic area, flanked by the Sagaing Fault on one side. Earthquakes like the Thailand earthquake are common in Myanmar. Over the last century, Myanmar has experienced six strong earthquakes with magnitudes higher than 7.0.
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