4.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar; Region Prone to Seismic Activity

• A 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, February 6, at a depth of 96 km, as reported by the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
• This follows two other recent earthquakes in the region: a 4.5 magnitude quake on February 2 at 115 km depth, and a 5.3 magnitude quake on February 3 at a shallow depth of 20 km.
• Shallow earthquakes, like the 5.3 magnitude one, are more dangerous due to stronger ground shaking and potential for greater damage and casualties.
• Myanmar is highly vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis, situated between four tectonic plates (Indian, Eurasian, Sunda, and Burma plates).
• The Sagaing Fault, a 1,400-kilometre transform fault, significantly increases seismic hazard for densely populated areas like Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, and Yangon.