A strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated Myanmar early Friday, with its tremors felt as distant as Bangkok, some 800 miles (1,300 kilometres) distant.
The quake inflicted widespread harm in two of Myanmar’s key cities, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyidaw, leaving a path of destruction and claiming quite a few lives.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with groups nonetheless working tirelessly to seek out survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The loss of life toll has climbed to about 1,700, with some experiences indicating the variety of confirmed fatalities might be nearer to 2,000.
The earthquake’s influence prolonged past Myanmar’s borders. In Bangkok, fatalities had been confirmed at three building websites, together with a high-rise constructing the place the loss of life toll climbed to 18 on Sunday.
Here’s what to learn about earthquakes and why specialists can’t predict when they are going to strike.
What are earthquakes and why do they occur in sure components of the world?
The Earth’s crust is damaged up into a number of items known as tectonic plates, which match collectively like a jigsaw puzzle.
This formation is “largely secure, however alongside the perimeters they’re shifting”, Columbia College geophysicist Michael Steckler stated.
Stress builds up when sliding plates get caught, growing “very slowly for many years or for a whole bunch of years, after which impulsively the rock plates will bounce”, triggering shaking that causes an earthquake, Mr Steckler stated.
Earthquakes usually happen alongside edges of tectonic plates. However their impacts could also be felt in a broader area.
Earthquakes that happen within the ocean do not at all times entice consideration, however people who happen near the place folks stay could cause deaths and accidents, most frequently from collapsed buildings.
What do scientists learn about earthquakes upfront?
Scientists have a good suggestion of the place earthquakes are more likely to strike, “however we will not predict after they’ll happen”, USGS seismologist Will Yeck stated.
Nevertheless, after the preliminary large earthquake, researchers are capable of venture that different smaller earthquakes close by, known as aftershocks, are doubtless.
Aftershocks are triggered “due to adjustments to emphasize within the Earth from the principle shock”, Mr Yeck stated.
Given the magnitude of the quake in Myanmar, “you’ll in all probability see aftershocks for the subsequent a number of months”, Mr Steckler stated.
What do you have to do for those who’re in a constructing when earthquake shaking begins?
In areas of the world with identified lively fault traces, together with California and Japan, constructing codes are sometimes designed to face up to earthquakes. However that is not true all over the place.
“If you happen to really feel shaking, the steering will depend on the place you might be on the earth,” Mr Yeck stated.
In lots of nations, for those who’re inside when an earthquake happens, it is advisable to drop to the bottom, cowl your head – for instance, by crawling below a desk or different sturdy construction – and maintain onto that construction, he stated.
Attempt to keep away from areas close to glass home windows and do not use constructing elevators.
If you happen to’re exterior, attempt to stay in an space away from buildings or bushes that would fall.
Relying on the situation, there could also be secondary hazards triggered by earthquakes, comparable to landslides, fires or tsunamis, he stated.
