Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Shocks Felt Across Region

YANGON ― A powerful earthquake of 6.8 magnitude struck central Myanmar on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and local authorities said, shaking buildings across the Southeast Asian nation and the region. The quake hit the town of Chauk, southwest of Mandalay, the Myanmar government said, with tremors felt as far away as Bangkok, where witnesses reported high rise buildings swaying, and the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. There were no immediate reports of casualties and initial reports suggested limited damage. “My house shook during the quake. Many people were scared and they ran out of the buildings,” said Maung Maung Kyaw, a local official of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD). “I went outside to check the situation in the town. Some of the buildings are split and nearly collapsed, but I don’t see any people affected by the quake,” said Maung Maung Kyaw. The USGS said the epicenter was about 145 km (90 miles) west of the city of Meiktila, and relatively deep at 84 km (52 miles). Chauk is about 35 km from Myanmar’s ancient capital of Bagan, known as the “City of 4 Million Pagodas” and a major draw for Myanmar’s nascent tourism industry. According to the 2014 census, the town has a population of about 45,000, with around 185,000 living in the surrounding area. It was a thriving oilfield during the British colonial era. Multiple pagodas damaged by M6.9 earthquake in Bagan, #Myanmar; tremors felt in Man...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news