A massive Myanmar Earthquake, it appears at its heart causing devastation and heartbreak. so the site said, as it a natural disaster sure to bring cries of concern. The 7.7 quake, believed to be the strongest in years and killing not just in Myanmar but also Thailand and southwest China.
The nation has hundreds feared dead and numerous more injured, engineering one heck of a battle for recovery.
Where it was and what it means?
On this note, the epicenter of the earthquake was 16 km (10 miles) northwest of Sagaing, also an area just north of Mandalay (second-biggest city in Myanmar with a population >1.5 million) Damage insight: Shakti Upadhyaya, Disaster Management Practitioner.
At a depth of only 10 km, the tremor was extremely damaging. Ironically, another magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit minutes later to stick the final proverbial nail into disaster’s coffin.
The destruction has been heaviest in Mandalay and its environs, with many structures reduced to piles of concrete and roads, roads torn apart. The shock waves were so strong that they rattled cities across the region in Thailand and China as well.
So, What Was The Impact ?
The human toll from this disaster could not be represented in words. Initial numbers confirm at least 144 dead so far & more are slated to be added as rescue teams dig through the debris. Reports even suggest Mandalay has seen hundreds lost.
Last year, in Thailand, the earthquake ruptured a home under construction in Bangkok (the high rise had not gained a concrete foundation) to collapse; 81 workers vanished in uncertainty.
Rescue workers are battling infrastructure damage and a broken communication network with no time to spare to reach victims. Many people remain trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings and search and rescue efforts are working day and night to save lives.
Why Is It So Difficult to Find Answers?
The political situation in Myanmar has made it almost impossible to gather a complete picture of what occurred during this disaster. After the military coup 2021 significant pre-requisite is to communicate with less barrier than their strict controls on media and internet access. Cell networks have collapsed in the region and tens of thousands still don’t have power due to this power cut.
Journalism is quite restricted for those not in the country, local journalists are having a hard time covering it on their own. This lack of transparency has left many families and communities in the dark.
Why It Was So Destructive?
Everything from the movement of tectonic plates beneath Earth’s surface are what they cause, earthquakes similar to this one. The Myanmar quake was incredibly destructive in part because it was so shallow, only 10 km. Shallow earthquakes will shake more violently at the surface, which destroys us.
In a brighter light, the moment- magnitude scale Mw classifies the 7.7 earthquake as a “major” quake. And quakes that can kill so many people, the destruction from them is often wide spread and injured from Myanmar’s infrastructure is not built to those standards of strength.
The Bigger Picture
Natural disaster is no more a myth as this tragedy proves its true power once again. Sadly for Myanmar still not winning the battle as other natural disasters in history have endured other comparisons.
In the case of for instance, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that occurred near Indonesia claimed over 228,000 lives. Likewise, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded – a magnitude-9.5 event in Chile in 1960 caused wide-spread damage and loss of life.
Now that the Myanmar earthquake is no less yet, but for it to be, brings about very hurtful consequences.
What Next?
It is a race against time for days to come. Rescue teams will pull around the clock though the difficulties are massive. Earthquake aftershocks should be checked, and authorities are telling the populace to be vigilant.
International aid orgs are gearing up, but the politics of Myanmar stand as a hindrance to their efforts.
All of you going Myanmar, Thailand and Laos have been advised to stay vigilant therefore safeguarded with local officials instructions.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK has also issued a travel warning in the region.
A Nation in Mourning
Bangkok the Myanmar community faces one more tragedy after another. The loss of life from this tragedy has struck the world, yet relief is not far off.
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