NAYPYIDAW, March 15 (ANI): An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar on Sunday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 107 kilometers.
In a post on X, the NCS stated, “EQ of M: 4.5, On: 15/03/2026 16:33:04 IST, Lat: 24.50 N, Long: 95.01 E, Depth: 107 Km, Location: Myanmar.”
Earlier on Saturday, another earthquake measuring 4.4 struck the region at a depth of 90 kilometers.
In a separate post on X, the NCS said, “EQ of M: 4.4, On: 14/03/2026 09:28:24 IST, Lat: 23.37 N, Long: 97.52 E, Depth: 90 Km, Location: Myanmar.”
Earthquakes can occur anywhere between the Earth’s surface and about 700 kilometers below the surface.
For scientific classification, earthquakes within this depth range are divided into three categories, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS): shallow, intermediate, and deep earthquakes.
Shallow earthquakes occur at depths between 0 and 70 kilometers, intermediate earthquakes occur between 70 and 300 kilometers, and deep earthquakes occur between 300 and 700 kilometers.
Generally, earthquakes deeper than 70 kilometers are referred to as “deep-focus earthquakes,” according to the USGS.
Myanmar is considered vulnerable to hazards from moderate to large earthquakes and potential tsunamis along its long coastline.
The country lies at the intersection of four tectonic plates—the Indian, Eurasian, Sunda, and Burma plates—which interact through active geological processes.
A 1,400-kilometer transform fault known as the Sagaing Fault runs through Myanmar and connects the Andaman spreading center to a collision zone in the north.
The Sagaing Fault significantly increases seismic risk for major cities including Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, and Yangon, which together account for about 46 percent of Myanmar’s population.
Although Yangon lies relatively far from the fault line, the city still faces considerable risk due to its dense population. For example, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Bago in 1903 also affected Yangon. (ANI)
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