3.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar Amid Seismic Swarm

An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar late on Sunday night at a depth of 93 kilometres. This tremor followed two earlier quakes of magnitudes 3.5 and 3.6 that occurred within a 14-minute interval the same day. Myanmar is highly vulnerable to seismic hazards as it is wedged between four interacting tectonic plates, including the dangerous Sagaing Fault. Major population centers like Yangon face significant risk despite distance from fault lines, as evidenced by historical earthquakes causing widespread damage.

Key Points: Myanmar Hit by 3.9 Magnitude Earthquake, More Tremors Reported

  • 3.9 magnitude quake at 93 km depth
  • Two earlier quakes of 3.5 & 3.6 magnitude
  • Region sits on multiple tectonic plates
  • Sagaing Fault threatens major population centers
  • WHO warned of health risks after past major quakes
2 min read

Earthquake of magnitude 3.9 strikes Myanmar

A 3.9 magnitude quake struck Myanmar at 93 km depth, part of a series of tremors. The region faces high seismic risk due to tectonic plate boundaries.

"EQ of M: 3.9, On: 25/01/2026 21:52:54 IST, Lat: 26.25 N, Long: 95.59 E, Depth: 93 Km, Location: Myanmar. - National Centre for Seismology"

Naypyidaw, January 26

An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar late on Sunday night, according to a statement issued by the National Centre for Seismology.

The tremor occurred at 11:04 PM IST at a depth of 93 kilometres.

Sharing details of the seismic activity on the social media platform X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 3.9, On: 25/01/2026 21:52:54 IST, Lat: 26.25 N, Long: 95.59 E, Depth: 93 Km, Location: Myanmar."

Earlier in the day, Myanmar experienced two more earthquakes of relatively lower intensity within a short span of time. According to the NCS, earthquakes of magnitudes 3.5 and 3.6 struck the region at an interval of just 14 minutes.

These tremors occurred at depths of 30 kilometres and 60 kilometres, respectively, indicating continued seismic activity in the area.

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.

In the aftermath of the magnitude 7.7 and 6.4 earthquakes that struck central Myanmar on March 28, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned of a series of rapidly rising health threats for tens of thousands of displaced people in earthquake-affected areas: tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and vector- and water-borne diseases.

A 1,400-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, an intense earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 that occurred in Bago also struck Yangon.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
3.9 is quite mild, especially at 93 km depth. People probably just felt a slight shake. The real concern is the constant activity. Three quakes in one day? The Sagaing Fault is a ticking time bomb for nearly half of Myanmar's population. They need robust early warning systems.
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Aman W
Reading about the 1903 quake affecting Yangon is a stark reminder. Our own cities like Guwahati and Delhi are in seismic zones too. Are we prepared? Our building codes in many states are lax. This news should be a wake-up call for our own disaster management authorities.
S
Sarah B
The geological details are fascinating but scary. Wedged between four tectonic plates... no wonder. The WHO warning about TB and HIV post-disaster is crucial. Relief efforts must include long-term healthcare planning, not just immediate food and shelter.
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Vikram M
While the report is informative, I wish it had more on what India's NCS collaboration is with Myanmar on seismic monitoring. We share a long border and geological risks. Cooperation on disaster preparedness in the region is as important as reporting the event.
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Nikhil C
Hope our brothers and sisters in Myanmar are safe. These small tremors are nature's way of releasing pressure, hopefully preventing a bigger one. The map of that 1400km fault line is terrifying. Stay safe, neighbours.

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