Southeast Asia was hit with two powerful earthquakes on Friday and these Deadly Earthquakes Spark Global Concern. Earthquake measuring 7.7-magnitude on the Richter’s scale struck Mandalay in Myanmar on Friday. The tremors of the quake were felt as far as Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai. 12 minutes later a second quake, with a magnitude of 6.4, shook the area.
The violent tremors caused buildings in the Thai capital Bangkok to sway which led to evacuations across the city, and in Myanmar. According to preliminary reports the U.S. Geological Survey and Germany’s GFZ center for geosciences said the midday earthquake was a shallow 10 kilometers, and the epicenter was in Myanmar.
Deadly Earthquakes Spark Global Concern
Devastation in Myanmar and Bangkok
The earthquake hit around 1:30 p.m., and alarms went off in buildings. The terrified residents were evacuated down staircases from tall buildings and hotels in thickly populated Bangkok.
According to Thailand’s Department of Disaster Preventaion the quake was felt in almost all regions of the country. The epicenter was in Myanmar, about 50 kilometers east of the city of Monywa. Videos popped up showing damages in Myanmar and Bangkok.
In Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market, an under-construction building collapsed, while the Ava Bridge, that connects Myanmar’s Ava and Sagaing regions fell down. The Ministry of Interior was immediately instructed by PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to declare Bangkok an emergency zone.
The PM also notified nationwide to treat the situation as a national emergency according to a statement from his office. The tremors were felt in China, Thailand, Vietnam and parts of India. These deadly earthquakes sparked global Concern.
Global Support and Relief Measures
President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office on Friday that the United States would help Myanmar and that he has already spoken with the country.
News agency PTI on Saturday reported India will send around 15 tons of relief materials in a military transport aircraft to earthquake-hit Myanmar.
The sources said, C130J, an Indian Air Force aircraft is headed to Myanmar from the Hindon air force station, with the relief materials which include tents, sleeping bags, blankets, essential medicines, water purifiers, ready-to-eat meals, solar lamps and generator sets.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto sent condolences to its Southeast Asian neighbor’s Myanmar and Thailand and offered to help them.
The Indonesian President wrote on X expressing deep condolences for the earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand. He also wrote that during this difficult time their people’s thoughts and prayers are with the people of Myanmar and Thailand.
He also expressed the countries readiness to provide all necessary support to the affected areas. Secretary-General of United Nations Antonio Guterres on Friday said the United Nations is mobilising relief for quake-hit Myanmar.
He told reporters that since the government of Myanmar has asked for international support, the United Nations team in Myanmar is already in contact to fully mobilise their resources in the region to support the people of Myanmar.
He went on to say that the other countries have also been affected but the epicentre is in Myanmar, and in this present situation Myanmar is the weakest country.
Cause of Earthquake
The lithosphere of the earth is made up of a number of tectonic plates. Over the last four billion years, the tectonic plates have been moving very slowly against each other. Many of the planet’s geological features are formed due to the movement of these plates.
When two tectonic plates slip past one another, stored-up “elastic strain” energy in the form of seismic waves is released. This causes the ground to shake resulting in earthquake.
According to USGS the Indian and Eurasian plates, rubbed sideways against each other which is called “strike slip faulting” resulting in the cause of the earthquake.
A “fault” is a zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. This allows the blocks to move relative to each other, sometimes leading to earthquakes.
The Sagaing Fault runs north to south through the middle of Myanmar and here is the place where quake took place.
Bill McGuire, emeritus professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, told The Guardian that between the Indian plate to the west and the Eurasian plate to the east the Sagaing fault marks the tectonic plate boundary.
Compared to the Eurasian plate the Indian plate is moving north along the fault. Due to the Sagaing fault Myanmar experiences frequent earthquakes.
According to USGS data, near the Sagaing Fault, at least six quakes of magnitude greater than 7 have occurred since 1900.
Loss and Humanitarian Crisis
In the latest news, AFP reported on Friday that the earthquake has killed 1,000 people and injured more than 1,600 others in Myanmar.
The violent earthquake destroyed several buildings, bridges, and a monastery. The Myanmar government said that blood was in high demand in the areas of severe destruction.
Condolences and Help Offered
USD 5 million is allocated to start relief efforts by the United Nations. PM Narendra Modi spoke to the head of the military-led government Min Aung Hlaing, in Myanmar.
PM Modi said on X, that he Spoke with Senior General H.E. Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar and conveyed deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake.
He wrote on X that Senior General H.E. Min Aung Hlaing is a close friend and a neighbor to India and that India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.
He later said that as part of ‘Operation Brahma’ India is sending humanitarian assistance, disaster relief material, search and rescue teams. Rescue teams are also sent by Russia and China while US has also assured assistance.
Future Concerns
Experts warn that this area is prone to continued tectonic activity and poses a likelihood of future earthquakes. This is threatening to mankind in densely populated regions such as Mandalay, Yangon, and even parts of Thailand.
Future devastation can be prevented by strengthening disaster preparedness and improving early warning systems.
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