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Magnitude 3.9 Earthquake Hits Myanmar; No Immediate Damage Reported
A 3.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar early Saturday at a depth of 115 km, adding to a recent series of tremors in the seismically active region prone to frequent earthquakes.
An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar in the early hours of Saturday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
The tremor occurred at 7:14 am IST at a depth of 115 kilometres. The NCS, in a post on X, said the earthquake was recorded at latitude 24.79°N and longitude 94.99°E, with its epicentre located in Myanmar.
This was the latest in a series of seismic events reported in the region. Earlier on Thursday, Myanmar experienced an earthquake of magnitude 3.8, while a stronger tremor of magnitude 4.6 was recorded on Wednesday at a depth of 138 kilometres.
Myanmar lies in a seismically active zone and is highly vulnerable to moderate and strong earthquakes, as well as tsunamis along its extensive coastline. The country is positioned at the junction of four major tectonic plates — the Indian, Eurasian, Sunda and Burma plates — making it prone to frequent geological activity.
A major contributor to Myanmar’s seismic risk is the 1,400-kilometre-long Sagaing Fault, a transform fault that connects the Andaman spreading centre to a collision zone in the north. This fault significantly raises earthquake hazards for cities such as Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago and Yangon, which together account for nearly 46 per cent of the country’s population. Although Yangon lies some distance from the fault line, its dense population makes it particularly vulnerable to seismic impacts.
The region has a history of destructive earthquakes. In 1903, a powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake originating in Bago caused significant damage in Yangon as well.
Following the devastating magnitude 7.7 and 6.4 earthquakes that struck central Myanmar on March 28, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned of escalating health risks for tens of thousands of displaced people. These included the spread of tuberculosis, HIV, and vector- and water-borne diseases in earthquake-affected areas.
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