When the earth moved violently under Myanmar it sent shockwaves reverberating across borders. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake caused widespread devastation, tragically claiming over 2,000 lives.
The quake’s impact wasn’t confined to Myanmar alone. Hundreds of miles away in Bangkok, Thailand, an unfinished high-rise tower crumbled to the ground. What caused such destruction so far from the epicenter? And how does one earthquake hold so much power over regions seemingly distant?
Here, we will look at the geophysical forces behind the Myanmar earthquake and explore how it triggered the collapse of a Bangkok structure with devastating consequences.
The Science Behind the Myanmar Earthquake
Myanmar’s geological activity is primarily shaped by its precarious position at the convergence of four tectonic plates. Among them is the Sagaing Fault, a massive crack in the Earth’s crust responsible for the catastrophic quake. The earthquake’s shallow depth of 10 kilometers played a key role in its intensity. Shallow quakes release their energy closer to the Earth’s surface, causing severe ground shaking over wide distances.
What made this earthquake particularly extraordinary was the phenomenon known as “super shear.” Such rare movements involve one tectonic plate slipping past another at speeds faster than seismic waves can travel. The result? An exceptionally destructive release of energy equivalent to an atomic bomb, leaving little room for neighboring regions to escape the consequences.
Why Did the Earthquake Affect Bangkok?
Bangkok sits more than 1,000 kilometers from the earthquake’s epicenter. At first glance, it might seem puzzling that a city so far away would experience such devastating consequences. However, the soil beneath Bangkok tells a different story.
Soft Soil Amplification
Bangkok is built on layers of soft, clay-rich soil. While such soil is common in river delta regions, it’s notoriously bad at absorbing the shock of seismic waves. Instead of dampening them, the soft soil amplified the ground shaking caused by the Myanmar earthquake. This intensification led to structural vibrations strong enough to destabilize even robust-looking buildings.
The Vulnerability of Bangkok’s Buildings
The high-rise that collapsed during the quake was still under construction, but it wasn’t just incomplete construction that left it vulnerable. Like many buildings in Thailand, it relied on a “flat-slab” construction technique. While cost-effective and easy to build, flat-slab designs lack the structural integrity needed to withstand strong seismic forces. Paired with Bangkok’s soft soil and the earthquake’s amplified shaking, the partially constructed building was a disaster waiting to happen.
Additionally, Bangkok’s building standards for earthquake resistance have only seen significant updates since 2009. Many older structures remain highly vulnerable due to their lack of compliance with modern, earthquake-resistant designs. Experts estimate that fewer than 10% of buildings in Thailand meet updated quake-resistant construction standards.
Lessons from Myanmar’s Earthquake
The impact of the earthquake extended well beyond Bangkok’s skyline, acting as a stark reminder of the risks faced by vulnerable regions like Mandalay in northern Myanmar. Here, the risks of liquefaction loom large. Areas along the Ayeyarwady River floodplain are particularly prone to liquefaction, where soil behaves like liquid during seismic activity, making buildings collapse into the ground.
Compounding this are issues of enforcement. Myanmar’s lack of widespread adoption of building design codes, coupled with construction practices in high-risk areas, makes the region particularly susceptible. Hazardous ripple effects such as landslides and aftershocks further endanger structures and lives.
A Wake-Up Call for Seismic Safety
The Myanmar earthquake and its consequences in Bangkok serve as a wake-up call for countries across Southeast Asia. Fault lines might not respect borders, but neither should preparation and cooperation. Modernizing infrastructure, enforcing strict building codes, and raising awareness are essential steps to safeguard lives and cities in a region prone to tectonic unrest.
What happened beneath the surface of Myanmar’s plates may have been complex and unavoidable, but the devastation seen above ground was not. The lack of preparedness and infrastructure in the affected areas only amplified the impact of the earthquake. This highlights the importance of investing in disaster risk reduction measures, such as early warning systems and evacuation plans, to minimize loss of life and damage to property.
Strict building codes must be enforced to ensure that structures are able to withstand seismic activity. This requires a combination of government regulations, proper implementation by developers and contractors, as well as regular inspections to ensure compliance. Many countries in Southeast Asia have weak enforcement mechanisms in place, making it crucial for governments to take action and prioritize safety over profit.
In addition to physical measures, raising awareness among communities is crucial in mitigating the effects of earthquakes. Education campaigns can inform individuals and families about the risks associated with living in seismic zones, and provide them with knowledge on how to prepare for and respond to earthquakes. This can include creating emergency kits, establishing evacuation plans, and conducting regular earthquake drills.
Governments must also invest in disaster response and recovery strategies. In the aftermath of an earthquake, timely and effective rescue operations are crucial in saving lives and minimizing damage. This requires well-equipped emergency services as well as trained personnel who are able to handle high-stress situations.