Earthquake in

Myanmar
AUTHOR
Thandar - 022202300044
Department of Civil Engineering
President University

INTRODUCTION
Myanmar is prone to earthquakes. It lies on Alphide Belts, one of the two main
earthquake belts of the world with a complex seismotectonic processes. The
major important faults in Myanmar are
Sagaing Fault: most prominent active fault in Myanmar which extends from
north of Lake Indawgyi southward along the Ayeyarwaddy River north of
Mandalay and along the eastern margin of the BagoYoma to the Andaman Sea
Kyaukkyan Fault: The Kyaukkyan Fault is a N–S-trending ~500 km long,
active right-lateral strike slip fault that lies on the western Shan Plateau.

EARTHQUAKE IN MYANMAR SINCE 1950

These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service
(NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. [Source: WorldData.info]

1. EARTHQUAKE IN MAUBIN, 7 JUNE 2023

General Information
Magnitude: 4.8
Depth: 19 km
Type: Shallow Earthquake

Impacts
Death: 3 [recorded as 2]
Structural Falilure: 2
Consequtive Earthquakes:
3 times in Yangon
2 highrise buildings tilt to each other

PHOTO: NLA (CJ)

2. EARTHQUAKE IN MANDALAY & SAGAING REGIONS, 11 NOVEMBER 2012

General Information Several Damages
Magnitude: 6.8 Ground ruptures
Depth: 38 km landslide
Type: Shallow Earthquake Structural Failure at Dam, Retaining Wall,
Field investigation: 6 Townships Monastory, Pagoda etc

Deaths: 26 People

Field Analysis: By Geotechnical Earthquake

Engineering Research Unit

RESULTS & FINDINGS CONCLUSION

In Thabeikkyin Township, peak ground acceleration occurred e between 0.1-0.2g. The
damages occurred to retaining walls, houses, pagodas as well as the ground rupture,
liquefaction and landslide were also observed.
It is found that the performance during the quake of the wooden structures (less
weight and more flexible) was much better than the brick or old reinforced concrete
structures.
It is also found that the house (one-story) built according to the local construction
guidelines was not damaged by earthquake.
The dam longitudinal crack is 0.5-1.0 cm wide and 5-10m long but not continuous
throughout the dam crest. Normally the longitudinal cracks are less danger than the
transverse cracks but repair or monitor shall be done to observe the propagation of
the cracks.
It’s recommended that the trapezoidal shape of retaining wall or the horizontal anchor
shall be used in the future.
The liquefaction potential will likely be very high if the earthquake strikes in the rainy
season becuase of the high groundwater table in the area.
Full investigation of liquefaction potential should be done in these townships.
RELATED LITERATURE
The 6.8 Magnitude of Earthquake in The Union of Myanmar: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
Research Unit
Enhancing and Developing Seismic Risk Assessment for Bago City of Myanmar
Recent earthquakes and their magnitudes in Myanmar (no date) Worlddata.info. (Accessed: 29 January
2024).
Geology of Myanmar (2024) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_Myanmar
(Accessed: 29 January 2024).