A major earthquake measuring 7.9 in magnitude shook Myanmar on Friday afternoon, with tremors felt across the region. The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) confirmed the seismic event occurred at 2:20 p.m. Beijing Time, centered at 21.85°N latitude and 95.95°E longitude near the country’s northwestern regions. The quake struck at a depth of 30 kilometers, raising concerns about potential structural damage and humanitarian needs.
Seismologists have flagged this as one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Southeast Asia in recent years, though immediate casualty figures and infrastructure impacts remain unclear. Myanmar’s proximity to active tectonic boundaries makes it prone to seismic activity, with past quakes triggering landslides and displacing communities in remote areas.
Authorities in Myanmar and neighboring countries are coordinating emergency assessments. Local media report emergency teams mobilizing to affected zones, while international agencies monitor for aftershocks. This development underscores the growing need for regional disaster preparedness frameworks to mitigate risks in earthquake-prone areas.
