Myanmar earthquake: NCS Director warns of more aftershocks, explains Sagaing Fault’s impact

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday originated from the Sagaing Fault, one of the region’s longest and most seismically active fault lines, according to Dr. OP Mishra, Director of the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

Dr. Mishra explained that the 1,200 km-long Sagaing Fault has previously triggered multiple magnitude 7+ earthquakes, making it a highly seismic-prone zone. "This is not the first time an earthquake of this magnitude has occurred here," he said, adding that the quake’s shallow depth (20-30 km) increased its intensity.

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The main shock at 11:50 AM (IST) was followed by three aftershocks:

Magnitude 7.0 at 12:02 PM
Magnitude 5.0 between 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Magnitude 4.9 later in the afternoon

Dr. Mishra further noted that Bangkok experienced structural damage because the earthquake’s rupture extended toward the Thai capital. The alluvial soil of Bangkok, prone to liquefaction, weakened buildings, leading to reported collapses.

The NCS is closely monitoring aftershocks, and a clearer picture of the earthquake’s impact is expected within the next 24 hours.