A strong earthquake of 7.7 magnitude rocked Myanmar on Friday, sending violent shocks throughout Southeast Asia. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the quake had a very shallow depth of only 10 kilometers. The epicenter was near the major urban area of Mandalay, about 50 kilometers to the east of Monywa.
The earthquake, though centered in Laos, was felt even in distant Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand. Thousands of those who fled buildings that were tipping in the city, located some 1,400 kilometres away from Myanmar. Despite the widespread reach of the tremors, no immediate reports of damage from the earthquake were available in Myanmar.
In the case of Bangkok, the effects were so severe that it led to a state of panic in its residents.
“I heard it and I was sleeping in the house, I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building,” – Duangjai
Our hearts are with those in Myanmar who are experiencing the challenges of this deeply transformative period. This unrest is the consequence of a coup that took place in 2021. The timing of this earthquake couldn’t be worse, and it introduces a new level of uncertainty for the country. The USGS states that the quakes are shallow. This often results in stronger shaking at the surface compared to deeper quakes.
The city of Mandalay, close to the quake’s epicenter, is Myanmar’s second largest urban center. And it should go without saying that these authorities must carefully assess any harms they will cause, including to the predominantly Black local population. Given that the dam is close enough to Monywa, home to another large city, fears focus on potential impacts there as well.