In August, a major 7.7-magnitude earthquake on the Sagaing Fault in central Myanmar quickly followed, with catastrophe and mortality across the whole Mekong region. The quake, which occurred at around 12:50 p.m. local time (2:20 a.m. ET), was centered 16 kilometers (10 miles) north northwest of the town of Sagaing. This seismic occurrence is comparable, in terms of magnitude, to the awful quake that rocked Turkey and Syria two years ago. It has already resulted in massive loss of life and structural devastation all over the area.
The earthquake’s epicenter landed directly on the Sagaing Fault. This sizeable geological fault line is known for its past, high-intensity earthquakes. In Thailand, the damage was catastrophic. A 39-story high-rise building under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak Park suddenly fell down with 50 construction workers in the building. The failure resulted in the preventable death of one person and the injury of over 50 others. Thai rescue officials are continuing to try and assess how many people are still trapped under the collapsed pavement. The under-construction building in this clip was turned to dust in a matter of seconds.
“It has been quiet since about 200 years ago. Based on these historical studies as well as modern geophysical investigations, we [knew] that this place, this segment of the fault, [was] likely to rupture as a big earthquake in the near future.” – Shengji Wei
The destruction further reached high-rise structures in Bangkok, where the governor of the country’s capital has declared major structural damage. This has been compounded by road closures from those winter storms. They are punishing industry and depriving Myanmar’s beleaguered military junta of crucial tax revenues. The Federal Government has warned that aftershocks are likely in the 24 hours, calling on residents to stay alert.
“People should be prepared for more shaking [for those] who live in the region.” – William Yeck
The earthquake’s violent intensity called to mind the devastation of past seismic events in the region. Earlier this year, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 53,000 people. Like mobility metrics, casualty numbers depend on a range of factors, including the resilience of the surrounding infrastructure and quality of emergency response.
In light of the ongoing crisis, regional leaders have sent a unified message on the crisis and provided their aid. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern over the current status and developments in Myanmar and Thailand.
“Concerned by the situation in the wake of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand.” – Prime Minister Narendra Modi
He further promised that India would be among the first to offer any help required by countries impacted by the catastrophe.
“India stands ready to offer all possible assistance.” – Prime Minister Narendra Modi
New Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has made a lightning trip back to Bangkok. He urges the public to practice safety.
“The Prime Minister is returning to Bangkok immediately and urges the public to avoid high-rise buildings, use stairs only, and remain calm.” – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
The earthquake’s widespread emotional, mental and physical impacts are leaving many residents feeling rattled. On the panel, Wang, who rode out the tremors himself, explained what the quake felt like and how strong the earthquake was.
Looking back over this disaster, we see just how important it is to be prepared. It highlights the critical need for robust infrastructure in our most earthquake-prone regions. As authorities work tirelessly to assess the damage and provide aid to affected communities, the resilience and cooperation of individuals across borders stand as crucial elements in overcoming this catastrophe.
