Myanmar is rolling up after a huge earthquake that is hitting the country on Friday, March 28.
The tremor of 7.7 is felt elsewhere, including Thailand and Southwestern China.
The leader of the country’s military government said more than 1,700 people died and more than 3,400 were injured. In Thailand, at least 17 people have died.
So far, this is what we know.
Where did the earthquake hit?
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the earthquake was 16 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of the city of Myanmar.
This is also located near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital PYI TAW.
According to USGS, the first earthquake occurred at 12:50 (06:20 GMT). The amplitude was 6.4 after the second earthquake hit 12 minutes. Its epicenter is 18 km (11 miles) south of Sagan.
Which areas are affected?
Strong earthquake bends roads, damaged bridges and scaling Myanmar (formerly known as Myanmar) are a country of about 55 million people.
It is considered one of the most “active” regions in the world.
The junta of the ruling said 1,591 homes were damaged in Mandalay. Dozens of people are still captured by rescuers who search “with naked hands”.
Strong tremors were also felt elsewhere, including Thailand and Southwestern China.
The 1,000 km (621 miles) from the center of Friday’s earthquake, the 1,000 km (621 miles) from the earthquake – however, an unfinished high-rise building in the city was cut down by it.
The video also shows the roof pool in Bangkok overflowing on the side of the swinging building.
How deadly is it?
The official death toll is now 1,700. Many deaths were in Mandalay.
More than 3,400 people were injured and 300 were missing.
Rescue operations are underway, a rescue team in Mandalay said they “poached people with naked hands.”
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, 17 people have been confirmed dead – 12 of them in high-rise buildings, and 83 of them are missing.
How difficult is it to find out what is going on in Myanmar?
Getting information from Myanmar is difficult.
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has been ruled by the military government, complicating information access.
The state controls nearly all local broadcasting, television, printing and online media. Internet usage is also restricted.
Mobile routes in affected areas are mottled, but thousands of people don’t have electricity either, making it difficult for the BBC to attract residents.
Foreign journalists are rarely officially allowed to enter the country.
Some international aid (mainly from China and India) has begun to arrive after a rare appeal from military authorities.
The Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal to $100 million (£77 million).
What causes the earthquake?
The earth’s crust is composed of separate pieces (called plates) that are attached to each other.
These plates often try to move, but are blocked by friction in adjacent friction.
But sometimes the pressure increases until a plate suddenly pulls, causing the surface to move.
They are measured in a proportion called the moment scale (MW). This replaces the Richter scale, which is now considered outdated and has poor accuracy.
The numbers attributed to an earthquake represent the combination of distances the fault line moves and the force that moves it.
A tremor of 2.5 or less is usually not felt, but can be detected by the instrument. Feel up to five kinds of earthquakes and cause minor damage. The Myanmar earthquake at 7.7 is classified as a major earthquake and usually causes serious damage, as shown in this case.
Anything above 8.0 can cause catastrophic damage and can completely destroy the community at its heart.
Is it safe to travel to Myanmar, Thailand or Laos?
The UK’s foreign country, the Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), warned that there are several strong aftershocks that may be possible in places affected by the earthquake.
It has advised people in the region, or tourists planning to travel to Myanmar, Thailand or Laos to monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities and tourism operators.
FCDO has also previously advised travel to parts of Myanmar, but is essential for travel to parts of Thailand and Laos.
It said that the security situation in Myanmar may worsen in a short period of time and that the military regime can introduce travel restrictions at any time.
The FCDO’s warning to parts of Thailand is “due to regular attacks on provinces with Malaysia’s borders”, and its recommendations to Laos are related to “intermittent attacks on infrastructure and armed conflicts with anti-government groups” in the Xaisomboun province.
How does this compare to other major earthquakes?
The earthquake and its aftershocks were relatively shallow – the depth was about 10 kilometers.
This means that the impact on the surface may be more devastating than deeper earthquakes, and buildings are more difficult to shake and more likely to collapse.
On December 26, 2004, one of the largest earthquakes in history hit the Indonesian coast, triggering a tsunami that swept across the entire community around the Indian Ocean. The 9.1 magnitude earthquake killed about 228,000 people.
The largest earthquake ever recorded 9.5 and was recorded in Chile in 1960.
