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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Myanmar earthquake: What we know | Myanmar earthquake: What we know |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A collapsed multi-storey building in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city | A collapsed multi-storey building in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city |
| A huge earthquake has hit central Myanmar. | A huge earthquake has hit central Myanmar. |
| The magnitude-7.7 tremor was felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and south-west China. | The magnitude-7.7 tremor was felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and south-west China. |
| Hundreds are feared dead, although it is difficult to obtain accurate information. | Hundreds are feared dead, although it is difficult to obtain accurate information. |
| Here is what we know so far. | Here is what we know so far. |
| Where did the earthquake strike? | Where did the earthquake strike? |
| The earthquake's epicentre was located 16km (10 miles) north-west of Myanmar's city Sagaing, at a depth of about 10km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. | The earthquake's epicentre was located 16km (10 miles) north-west of Myanmar's city Sagaing, at a depth of about 10km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. |
| This is also near Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay, with a population of about 1.5 million people - and about 100km (62 miles) north of the capital Nay Pyi Taw. | |
| A second earthquake struck 12 minutes after the first, according to the USGS, with a magnitude of 6.4. | |
| The quake's epicentre was 18km (11.1 miles) south of Myanmar's city Sagaing. | |
| Live: Follow the latest on the Myanmar earthquake | Live: Follow the latest on the Myanmar earthquake |
| Watch: Moment Bangkok high-rise under construction collapses | Watch: Moment Bangkok high-rise under construction collapses |
| Eyewitnesses describe horror in quake's aftermath | Eyewitnesses describe horror in quake's aftermath |
| In pictures: Damaged buildings and buckled roads | In pictures: Damaged buildings and buckled roads |
| Which areas were affected? | Which areas were affected? |
| In Myanmar, there are reports of roads buckling in the capital in addition to damage to buildings across the country. | In Myanmar, there are reports of roads buckling in the capital in addition to damage to buildings across the country. |
| Strong tremors were also felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and south-west China. | Strong tremors were also felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and south-west China. |
| Eighty-one construction workers are missing after an unfinished high-rise building collapsed hundreds of miles away from the epicentre, in the Thai capital Bangkok. | Eighty-one construction workers are missing after an unfinished high-rise building collapsed hundreds of miles away from the epicentre, in the Thai capital Bangkok. |
| A video also showed a rooftop pool in Bangkok spilling over the sides of a swaying building. | A video also showed a rooftop pool in Bangkok spilling over the sides of a swaying building. |
| Watch: Water from Bangkok rooftop pool spills on to the street | Watch: Water from Bangkok rooftop pool spills on to the street |
| How deadly was it? | How deadly was it? |
| At least 144 people have died and hundreds of people have been injured in Myanmar, according to the country's military leader - General Min Aung Hlaing. | |
| He has said the number of casualties is expected to rise. | |
| It may be a while before official casualty figures become known, but a member of a rescue team based in Mandalay has told the BBC that the number of deaths there "is at least in the hundreds". | It may be a while before official casualty figures become known, but a member of a rescue team based in Mandalay has told the BBC that the number of deaths there "is at least in the hundreds". |
| "That's all we can say right now because the rescue efforts are ongoing," they added. | "That's all we can say right now because the rescue efforts are ongoing," they added. |
| Moment Bangkok high-rise collapses following Myanmar earthquake | Moment Bangkok high-rise collapses following Myanmar earthquake |
| How hard is it to find out what's happening in Myanmar? | How hard is it to find out what's happening in Myanmar? |
| Getting information out of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is difficult. | Getting information out of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is difficult. |
| Myanmar has been ruled by a military junta since a coup in 2021, making access to information problematic. | Myanmar has been ruled by a military junta since a coup in 2021, making access to information problematic. |
| The state controls almost all local radio, television, print and online media. Internet use is also restricted. | The state controls almost all local radio, television, print and online media. Internet use is also restricted. |
| Mobile lines in the affected areas have been patchy since the quake struck, but tens of thousands of people also live without electricity, making it tough for the BBC to communicate with individuals on the ground. | Mobile lines in the affected areas have been patchy since the quake struck, but tens of thousands of people also live without electricity, making it tough for the BBC to communicate with individuals on the ground. |
| Foreign journalists are also rarely allowed to enter officially due to a lack of press freedom. | Foreign journalists are also rarely allowed to enter officially due to a lack of press freedom. |
| What causes earthquakes? | What causes earthquakes? |
| The Earth's crust is made up of separate bits, called plates, that nestle alongside each other. | The Earth's crust is made up of separate bits, called plates, that nestle alongside each other. |
| These plates often try to move but are prevented by the friction of rubbing up against an adjoining one. | These plates often try to move but are prevented by the friction of rubbing up against an adjoining one. |
| But sometimes the pressure builds until one plate suddenly jerks across, causing the surface to move. | But sometimes the pressure builds until one plate suddenly jerks across, causing the surface to move. |
| They are measured on a scale called the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw). This has replaced the better known Richter scale, now considered outdated and less accurate. | They are measured on a scale called the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw). This has replaced the better known Richter scale, now considered outdated and less accurate. |
| The number attributed to an earthquake represents a combination of the distance the fault line has moved and the force that moved it. | The number attributed to an earthquake represents a combination of the distance the fault line has moved and the force that moved it. |
| A tremor of 2.5 or less usually cannot be felt, but can be detected by instruments. Quakes of up to five are felt and cause minor damage. The Myanmar earthquake at 7.7 is classified as major and usually causes serious damage, as it has in this instance. | A tremor of 2.5 or less usually cannot be felt, but can be detected by instruments. Quakes of up to five are felt and cause minor damage. The Myanmar earthquake at 7.7 is classified as major and usually causes serious damage, as it has in this instance. |
| Anything above 8.0 causes catastrophic damage and can totally destroy communities at its centre. | Anything above 8.0 causes catastrophic damage and can totally destroy communities at its centre. |
| Is it safe to travel to Myanmar, Thailand or Laos? | |
| The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has warned about the possibility of several strong aftershocks in places affected by the earthquake. | |
| It has advised people in the area, or tourists planning to travel to Myanmar, Thailand or Laos, to monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities and tour operators. | |
| The FCDO has also previously issued advice against all travel to parts of Myanmar and all but essential travel to parts of Thailand and Laos. | |
| Myanmar's security situation "may deteriorate at short notice and the military regime can introduce travel restrictions at any time" amid an "increasingly volatile" conflict, it said. | |
| The FCDO's warning for parts of Thailand is "due to regular attacks in the provinces by the border with Malaysia" and its advice for Laos relates to "intermittent attacks on infrastructure and armed clashes with anti-government groups" in Xaisomboun province. | |
| How does this compare with other large earthquakes? | How does this compare with other large earthquakes? |
| This earthquake and its aftershocks were relatively shallow - about 10km in depth. | This earthquake and its aftershocks were relatively shallow - about 10km in depth. |
| That means the impact on the surface is likely to have been more devastating than a deeper earthquake, with buildings shaken much harder and more likely to collapse. | That means the impact on the surface is likely to have been more devastating than a deeper earthquake, with buildings shaken much harder and more likely to collapse. |
| On 26 December 2004, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck off the coast of Indonesia, triggering a tsunami that swept away entire communities around the Indian Ocean. | On 26 December 2004, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck off the coast of Indonesia, triggering a tsunami that swept away entire communities around the Indian Ocean. |
| The 9.1 magnitude quake killed about 228,000 people. | The 9.1 magnitude quake killed about 228,000 people. |
| The largest ever earthquake registered 9.5 and was recorded in Chile in 1960. | The largest ever earthquake registered 9.5 and was recorded in Chile in 1960. |