A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar early Friday, its tremors reaching as far as Bangkok, approximately 800 miles (1,300 kilometres) away.
The quake wreaked havoc in two of Myanmar’s major cities, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyidaw, leaving a trail of destruction and loss.
Rescue teams are in a race against time, pulling survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings almost 60 hours after the initial tremor.
The death toll in Myanmar has risen to 1,700, with some reports placing the confirmed fatalities closer to 2,000. Hundreds remain missing, and access to numerous communities is hampered by blocked roads, damaged bridges, and ongoing conflict, raising fears that the final death toll could be significantly higher.
On Monday, there were glimmers of hope as four survivors were rescued from a collapsed school and another from a hotel.
The earthquake’s impact extended beyond Myanmar’s borders.
In Bangkok, fatalities were confirmed at three construction sites, including a high-rise building where the death toll climbed to 18 on Sunday. At least 76 workers are still feared trapped beneath the debris.
While signs of life were detected at the site over the weekend, Thai authorities acknowledge that the window for finding survivors is rapidly closing.
The earthquake, originating along the Sagaing Fault, was shallow, just 10km below the surface, resulting in intense ground shaking, according to experts.
The US Geological Survey estimates that nearly 800,000 people in Myanmar may have experienced the most violent tremors. It said the final death toll could exceed 10,000, based on predictive modelling that accounts for the country’s infrastructure, building types and access to rescue services.
What are earthquakes and why do they happen in certain parts of the world?
The Earth's crust is broken up into several pieces called tectonic plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
This formation is “mostly stable, but along the edges they are moving”, Columbia University geophysicist Michael Steckler said.
Pressure builds up when sliding plates get stuck, increasing “very slowly for decades or for hundreds of years, and then all of a sudden the rock plates will jump", triggering shaking that causes an earthquake, Mr Steckler said.
Earthquakes typically occur along edges of tectonic plates. But their impacts may be felt in a broader region.
Earthquakes that occur in the ocean don't always attract attention, but those that occur close to where people live can cause deaths and injuries, most often from collapsed buildings.
What do scientists know about earthquakes in advance?
Scientists have a good idea of where earthquakes are likely to occur, "but we can't predict when they'll occur”, USGS seismologist Will Yeck said.
However, after the initial big earthquake, researchers are able to project that other smaller earthquakes nearby, called aftershocks, are likely.
Aftershocks are triggered “because of changes to stress in the Earth from the main shock”, Mr Yeck said.
Given the magnitude of the quake in Myanmar, “you will probably see aftershocks for the next several months”, Mr Steckler said.
What should you do if you're in a building when earthquake shaking begins?
In regions of the world with known active fault lines, including California and Japan, building codes are often designed to withstand earthquakes. But that's not true everywhere.
“If you feel shaking, the guidance depends on where you are in the world,” Mr Yeck said.
In many countries, if you're inside when an earthquake occurs, it's advisable to drop to the ground, cover your head – for example, by crawling under a desk or other sturdy structure – and hold onto that structure, he said. Try to avoid areas near glass windows and don't use building elevators.
If you're outside, try to remain in an area away from buildings or trees that could fall.
Depending on the location, there may be secondary hazards triggered by earthquakes, such as landslides, fires or tsunamis, he said.
