An earthquake measuring 4.3 magnitudes on the Richter Scale shook Myanmar on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The tremors were first reported by the National Centre for Seismology or the NCS. The seismic event occurred at a depth of 125 km, with coordinates placing it at 25.03°N latitude and 95.28°E longitude. Here are all of the other important details that you would need to know about this particular earthquake in Myanmar.
Myanmar Experiences A 4.2 Magnitude Earthquake
According to an article that was recently published by the Hindustan Times or HT, a similar event took place on March 3, 2025. An earthquake of 4.2 magnitudes was recorded in Myanmar. Unlike the most recent occurrence, the earlier earthquake was notably shallow at just 10km depth.
Shallow earthquakes pose greater hazards as they release energy closer to the Earth’s surface, resulting in stronger ground vibrations and potentially more structural damage and casualties compared to deeper seismic events.
Myanmar sits in a region of high seismic activity due to the ongoing collision between the Eurasian and Indo-Australian tectonic plates. Despite this vulnerability, the country has yet to establish an official national seismic hazard map.
How Can Earthquake Preparedness Be Improved?
Data from the International Seismological Centre indicates approximately 140 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater occur in Myanmar and surrounding areas annually. This is based on records from 1990 to 2019. The Sagaing Fault significantly increases earthquake risk for several population centres.
These include Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago and Yangon. These are the areas that collectively house 46 per cent of Myanmar’s population. Whilst Yangon is situated at some distance from the fault itself, its dense population makes it particularly vulnerable to seismic events.
Historical evidence supports this concern. In 1903, a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake centred in Bago also impacted Yangon substantially. Myanmar’s extensive coastline also renders it susceptible to tsunami hazards following significant seismic activity.
The combination of frequent earthquake occurrence and substantial population density in vulnerable areas makes comprehensive seismic risk assessment particularly important for the country’s disaster preparedness efforts.
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