Unpacking hidden seismic risks

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay in Myanmar on March 28, exposing more than 3 million people to violent shaking and resulting in more than 3,000 deaths, some 3,900 injuries and over 300 missing. Its shock waves reverberated far beyond Myanmar’s borders, extending over 1,000km to Bangkok.

- TEMILY BAKER SANJAY SRIVASTAVA

This disaster reveals a stark truth: seismic risks transcend visible fault lines. We must confront three key concerns: the transboundary nature of seismic hazards, the limitations of early warning systems and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure.

Why was the Mandalay earthquake felt in Bangkok?

This earthquake along the Sagaing fault exemplifies the concept of transbound-ary seismicity, where geological fault sections amplify distant events. Bangkok sits atop a deep basin of soft marine clay. Unlike hard rock, which dampens vibra-tions, soft soil acts like a natural ampli-fier for seismic waves, making even far off earthquakes intense.