A strong earthquake hit central Myanmar at 12:51 pm yesterday.

The earthquake was initially reported to have a magnitude of 7.7 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2137 miles) near Sagaing in central Myanmar. According to the GFZ Institute for Geosciences in Germany, the strong quake that struck yesterday afternoon was centred in Myanmar.

The earthquake was felt across Myanmar, as well as in Thailand, China, and Laos.

The earthquake caused the collapses of the old Sagaing Bridge, and several buildings in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Pyinmana, Aungban, and Inlay. Damages also include the collapses of the Dokhtawady Bridge on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, and some portions at and around 362-mile Yangon-Mandalay Expressway causing some road closures along the route.

The Sagaing Fault is an important earthquake-prone fault in Myanmar, running from central to northern Myanmar. This fault is caused by the movement of the Indian and Eurasian plates, and the cities along which are included in the most earthquake-prone areas in Myanmar.

The authorities have warned that the Sagaing Fault is one of the most geologically dangerous areas in Myanmar, and it is important to be prepared for the risk to be reduced by building earthquake-resistant buildings and educating the public about earthquake hazard protection.

Htun Htun/ZN

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