Myanmar Earthquake Causes Severe Damage Due to Soil Liquefaction and Resonance Effects
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, causing severe damage in Myanmar and Thailand due to resonance effects on buildings and soil liquefaction. The event was traced to the Sagaing Fault, with significant aftershocks affecting the area. A state of emergency has been declared in multiple regions, following recorded casualties and structural failures during the quake.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) in India reported that a recent earthquake in Myanmar, which had a magnitude of 7.5, caused extensive damage in Myanmar and parts of Thailand due to its shaking frequency coinciding with the natural frequencies of buildings. This resonance effect heightened structural vulnerability during the seismic event.
Soil liquefaction, a phenomenon where saturated soil temporarily loses its strength and behaves like a liquid, also contributed to the destruction. O P Mishra, the NCS head, specified that liquefaction played a significant role in the damage observed following the quake, especially in Bangkok, Thailand, located over 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter in Mandalay.
The earthquake, occurring at approximately 11:50 AM, was followed by seven aftershocks with magnitudes between 3.5 and 7.0, affecting northeastern India as well. The NCS traced the earthquake’s origin to the Sagaing Fault, situated 1,200 kilometers east of the Indo-Burma subduction zone, which directed seismic energy towards Bangkok.
A powerful aftershock of magnitude 7 struck just 12 minutes later, only 90 kilometers southwest of the initial quake site. Historical data highlights that the region is prone to significant seismic activity, having previously experienced a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 1912 and a 7.2 quake in 1956.
Reports indicated that at least three fatalities occurred in Bangkok due to the earthquake, alongside substantial destruction when a high-rise building under construction collapsed. As a response, Myanmar’s military-led government declared a state of emergency in six regions, including the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay.
The earthquake in Myanmar, with a magnitude of 7.5, resulted in severe damage primarily due to soil liquefaction and resonance with building frequencies. The NCS identified a total of seven aftershocks that compounded the impact. Historical patterns of seismic activity in the region suggest a recurring risk, further underscored by the recent casualties and structural failures in neighboring Thailand. Emergency responses are underway in affected regions, emphasizing the need for preparedness against future seismic events.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
