Earthquake of magnitude 3.6 strikes Myanmar
Naypyidaw, April 8
An earthquake of magnitude 3.6 struck Myanmar on Wednesday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology said.
The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 12km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.
In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 3.6, On: 08/04/2026 06:45:05 IST, Lat: 21.646 N, Long: 95.252 E, Depth: 12 Km, Location: Myanmar."
Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties.
Earthquakes can occur anywhere between the Earth's surface and about 700 kilometres below the surface. For scientific purposes, this earthquake depth range of 0 - 700 km is divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep, as per USGS data.
Shallow earthquakes are between 0 and 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 - 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 - 700 km deep. In general, the term "deep-focus earthquakes" is applied to earthquakes deeper than 70 km, the USGS states.
Myanmar is vulnerable to hazards from moderate and large magnitude earthquakes and tsunamis along its long coastline. Myanmar is wedged between four tectonic plates (the Indian, Eurasian, Sunda, and Burma plates) that interact in active geological processes.
A 1400-kilometre transform fault runs through Myanmar and connects the Andaman spreading centre to a collision zone in the north called the Sagaing Fault.
The Sagaing Fault increases the seismic hazard for Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, and Yangon, which together represent 46 per cent of Myanmar's population.
Although Yangon is relatively far from the fault trace, it still suffers from significant risk due to its dense population. For instance, in 1903, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Bago also struck Yangon.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Northeast India often feels tremors from quakes in Myanmar. NCS does a good job with timely updates. We need to be prepared in our border states too.
Magnitude 3.6 is relatively minor, but the depth makes a big difference. Interesting to see the comparison with the 4.0 quake earlier this month. The science behind it is clear.
The article is informative, but it would be helpful if they included whether any tremors were felt in Indian states like Manipur or Mizoram. That's the immediate concern for many of us reading.
Seismic activity in that region seems frequent. Hope the infrastructure in Myanmar can handle these shocks. Disaster preparedness is crucial for all countries in the ring of fire.
Good to see our National Centre for Seismology monitoring events beyond our borders. Regional cooperation on disaster data is essential. Stay safe, everyone.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.