A powerful 7.7 size earthquake hit near Mandalay, Myanmar, early Friday, sent trembling as far as Bangkok, approx. 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) away.
The earthquake caused widespread destruction in two Myanmar towns with rescue crews in the capital, Naypyidaw, depicted to pull survivors from the wreck of collapsed buildings. In Bangkok, authorities confirmed deaths at three construction sites, including a high -rise buildings.
The earthquake derived from the light failure was low, resulting in intense soil shaking, according to experts. The US geological study estimates that nearly 800,000 people in Myanmar may have experienced the most violent tremors. Preliminary estimates suggest that a significant death toll that is potentially over 1,000 is likely.
What is the earthquake and why do they happen in certain parts of the world?
The Earth’s crust is divided into several pieces called tectonic plates that fit together like a puzzle.
This formation is “mostly stable, but along the edges they are moving,” said Columbia University geophysicist Michael Steckler.
The pressure builds up when sliding plates get stuck and increase “very slowly for decades or hundreds of years, and then suddenly the rock plates will jump,” triggers shakes causing an earthquake, Steckler said.
Earthquakes typically occur along edges of tectonic plates. But their effects can be felt in a wider region.
Earthquakes that occur in the sea do not always attract attention, but those that occur close to where people live can cause deaths and damage, most often from collapsed buildings.
What do scientists know about earthquakes in advance?
Researchers have a good idea of ​​where earthquakes are likely to occur, “but we cannot predict when they will occur,” said USGS Seismologist Will Yeck.
After the initial large earthquake, however, scientists are able to project that other smaller earthquakes nearby, called aftershocks, are likely.
Postpoons are triggered “due to changes in stress in the ground from the main shock,” Yeck said.
Given the size of the earthquake in Myanmar, “you are likely to see crashes in the next several months,” Steckler said.
What should you do if you are in a building when earthquakes are shaking begins?
In regions of the world with well -known active error lines, including California and Japan, building codes are often designed to withstand earthquakes. But that’s not true everywhere.
“If you feel shaking, the guidance depends on where you are in the world,” Yeck said.
In many countries, including the United States, if you are inside, when an earthquake occurs, it is advisable to fall to the ground, cover your head – for example, by reviewing under a desk or other robust structure – and holding on to this structure, he said. Try to avoid areas near glass windows and do not use building elevators.
If you are outside, try to stay in an area away from buildings or trees that may fall.
Depending on the location, there may be secondary dangers triggered by earthquakes, such as landslides, fires or tsunamis, he said.