It’s not often we get to see Earth shift. But during the powerful 7.7-magnitude quake in Myanmar on March 28, a single CCTV camera caught something extraordinary. For the first time, scientists have direct footage of a fault rupturing in real time—a rare glimpse into the mechanics of plate tectonics.
The Sagaing Fault, running through central Myanmar, cracked open with sudden force. The surface jolted sideways, like a massive belt jerking for a moment. This wasn’t just violent shaking. It was Earth's crust sliding past itself in action.
A ripple through the crust caught on camera
Plate tectonics usually move in silence over centuries. But this video, now studied by geophysicists, shows the rupture unfurling in 1.3 seconds. Using a method called pixel cross-correlation, researchers measured a 2.5-meter sideways shift with a peak speed of 3.2 meters per second.
These quick, horizontal movements are typical of strike-slip faults. What makes this finding unique is the brief duration of the rupture. This “pulse-like” slip moved like a ripple down a rug, in a fast and focused burst.
Until now, scientists relied on faraway sensors to understand quakes. Those readings lose detail as seismic waves travel underground. But this footage brings new clarity. It could help forecast how future quakes might shake specific areas.
Curved slip confirms long-debated fault marks
More than just speed and movement, the footage revealed shape. The fault slip didn’t travel in a straight line. It curved—a detail that echoes what geologists call “slickensides,” or tiny scratches left on rock faces.
Past models suggested these curved lines show the direction a fault moves. Now, with real video evidence, those theories have new support. The Myanmar rupture travelled from north to south—just as the curved slickenlines had predicted.
This is important for historic quakes, too. In New Zealand, for example, curved slickenlines from the Alpine Fault’s 1717 quake may now tell us much more. They point to how that rupture travelled, even centuries later.
A powerful tool for future fault research
Scientists say the Myanmar footage opens new doors. With more cameras placed near major faults, future quakes could be captured in this level of detail. That could help researchers better understand the forces shaping our planet.
This study, led by Jesse Kearse of Kyoto University, was published in GeoScienceWorld. It marks the start of a new era in earthquake research—one where we don’t just feel quakes but actually see them happen.
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