Earthquake alerts: Raising awareness for the public safety

Earthquakes are usually occurred when two underground rocks of the earth slip past and push against each other. The amount of damage caused by the earthquake and the magnitude of the earthquake can be measured depending on the information of the location of the earthquake, the distance from the earthquake’s center and the earth’s surface and where the earthquake occurred in which depth of the underground.

Earthquake magnitudes ranging from 1 to 4.9 on the Richter Scale are classified as the light earthquakes and 5 to 5.9 on the Richter Scale is considered as a moderate one. From 6 to 7.5, it is described as a powerful earthquake that causes lots of damage. In addition, large earthquakes above 7.6 on the Richter Scale are classified as great earthquakes and cause severe damages.

In Myanmar, there is a long Sagaing fault from Putao to the Gulf of Muttama, and the major cities lie along the fault. 5 earthquake lines are located in the country, including other major earthquake lines.

The Sagaing Fault is a major tectonic structure that cuts through the centre of Myanmar, broadly dividing the country into a western half moving north with the Indian plate, and an eastern half attached to the Eurasian plate.

Due to the occurrence of powerful earthquakes throughout Myanmar’s history, seismologists have predicted the situation and the potential magnitude of the next occurrence but it is only estimation, and there is no exact calculation of when the earthquakes can occur and how strong it will be.

According to the land features of Myanmar, it is included in the list of places prone to natural disasters, and among these natural disasters, storms and earthquakes are the main disasters that are usually occurred in Myanmar. Storms can be predicted in advance but earthquakes cannot be predicted so, people must study the nature of earthquakes and must prepare to escape if an earthquake occurs.