Myanmar quake unleashes force of 300 atomic bombs, aftershocks to persist for months

The earthquake’s impact was also felt beyond Myanmar’s borders.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, March 29, releasing an immense force equivalent to over 300 atomic bombs, a geologist told CNN. The disaster has left over 1,600 dead, with thousands more missing and widespread destruction reported.

According to a report by Hindustan Times citing Geologist Jess Phoenix, who spoke to CNN, the quake unleashed energy comparable to "about 334 atomic bombs." The earthquake’s epicenter was in Mandalay, Myanmar, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Phoenix also warned that aftershocks could persist for months due to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates beneath Myanmar.

The Myanmar government has confirmed at least 1,600 fatalities, with over 3,400 people still missing. However, the true extent of the disaster remains unclear due to an ongoing civil war and a communication blackout, which are hindering international efforts to assess the situation. The USGS had initially projected that the death toll could exceed 10,000.

CNN reported that the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar is exacerbating the crisis, making it difficult for relief efforts to reach affected areas and for the international community to comprehend the full scale of devastation.

On Sunday, March 30, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, as an aftershock of Friday’s massive quake, according to the USGS. Tremors were recorded between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time. However, magnitude readings varied—while the USGS recorded it at 5.1, India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported a magnitude of 4.6, and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) measured it at 5.2.

In response to the crisis, India has launched ‘Operation Brahma’ to provide emergency assistance to Myanmar. The Indian Air Force dispatched an aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies to Yangon on Saturday. The consignment included essential items such as tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, solar lamps, generator sets, and medicines.

India’s envoy to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur, handed over the supplies to Yangon’s Chief Minister, U Soe Thein.

The earthquake’s impact was also felt beyond Myanmar’s borders. Strong tremors were reported in southwest China’s Yunnan province, which shares a border with Myanmar. The quake also rocked Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, resulting in six deaths, 22 injuries, and 101 people reported missing.