The Myanmar Earthquake

  • A massive earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 7.7, struck central Myanmar, causing extensive destruction, especially in the city of Mandalay.
  • This seismic event is considered as one of the most powerful earthquakes in recent history.

 

Cause of the Earthquake

  • The earthquake in Myanmar was a result of a type of faulting process called "strike-slip faulting" which occurred along the Sagaing Fault.
  • Spanning 1,500km, the Sagaing Fault marks the tectonic plate boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates and is one of the world's longest and most active strike-slip faults.
  • The interaction between the Indian Plate, moving northward, and the Eurasian Plate caused stress to build up along this fault line. This, when suddenly released, triggers an earthquake.

 

India's Assistance during the Disaster

  • In response to the earthquake, India launched Operation Brahma to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, showcasing its position as a 'First Responder' in the region.
  • Indian Navy ships Satpura, Savitri, Karmuk, and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 52 sailed to Yangon, Myanmar, carrying crucial relief material.

 

Understanding Fault Lines

  • A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures in the Earth's crust that allows two blocks of rock to move relative to each other.
  • The movement along the fault, influenced by its dip and tectonic stress, can be sudden and cause an earthquake or can occur slowly in form of creep.
  • Tectonic stress accumulates along these fault lines and, when released, causes the blocks to shift, leading to seismic activity.

 

Types of Fault Lines

  • Normal Fault: A dip-slip fault where the block above the fault moves downward relative to the block below.
  • Reverse Fault: A dip-slip fault where the upper block moves upward over the lower block, often occurring in compression zones.
  • Strike-slip Fault: These faults occur when the blocks slide past each other horizontally. Their movement can be either right-lateral or left-lateral. For example, the San Andreas Fault is a right-lateral strike-slip fault.