Multiple earthquakes jolt Myanmar, Tibet, and Afghanistan

Economic Times

19-07-2025

Synopsis
Myanmar, Tibet and Afghanistan experienced a series of earthquakes between July 17 and 19. Myanmar was hit by three quakes. Tibet was jolted by two shallow quakes. Afghanistan experienced four earthquakes within 48 hours. Experts highlight the region's seismic vulnerability. They stress the need for improved monitoring and public awareness. Retrofitting buildings and regional cooperation are also important.
Agencies Representative image A series of earthquakes struck Myanmar, Tibet, and Afghanistan between July 17 and 19, highlighting the persistent seismic vulnerability of the broader South and Southeast Asian region, according to data released by the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
Myanmar experienced three moderate earthquakes over three consecutive days. On Saturday, July 19, an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 hit the country at a depth of 105 km. The NCS reported on X:'EQ of M: 3.7, On: 19/07/2025 03:26:40 IST, Lat: 22.20 N, Long: 94.28 E, Depth: 105 Km, Location: Myanmar.'This followed a magnitude 4.8 quake on Friday, July 18, at a depth of 110 km, and a 4.7 magnitude quake on July 17 at a shallower depth of 80 km.Experts noted that shallow quakes like the one on July 17 tend to be more dangerous due to stronger ground shaking and potential structural damage.
Myanmar, situated along the Eurasian and Indo-Australian plate boundary, is prone to seismic hazards. According to the International Seismological Centre, over 140 earthquakes of magnitude ≥3.0 occur annually in the region. The Sagaing Fault heightens risk particularly for urban centers like Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, and Yangon, which together account for nearly half of the country's population.Tibet was also jolted by two shallow quakes. On Saturday, a magnitude 3.6 quake occurred at a depth of just 10 km, making it susceptible to aftershocks. The NCS reported:'EQ of M: 3.6, On: 19/07/2025 03:17:59 IST, Lat: 29.10 N, Long: 86.99 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Tibet.'A similar tremor of magnitude 3.4 struck on Friday, July 18, also at a 10 km depth.Tibet lies in a seismically active region due to ongoing tectonic interactions between the Indian and Eurasian plates. According to experts like Dr. Marianne Karplus of the University of Texas at El Paso, while earthquakes in the region cannot be predicted, education, resilient infrastructure, and scientific studies can help mitigate impacts.Afghanistan experienced four earthquakes within a 48-hour window. On Saturday alone, two quakes of magnitude 4.0 and 4.2 struck at depths of 125 km and 190 km respectively.Late Friday night, a stronger 4.6 magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 125 km.Earlier, on July 17, a 4.7 magnitude quake at 150 km depth was also recorded.Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountain range lies on multiple fault lines between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making the region highly earthquake-prone. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has warned of the region's heightened vulnerability, particularly due to its fragile infrastructure and the compounded challenges of conflict and underdevelopment.The cluster of tremors across these three countries serves as a reminder of the region's vulnerability to moderate and large-magnitude earthquakes. Shallow quakes, in particular, pose greater threats due to the intense ground shaking they produce near populated areas. Experts stress the importance of improved seismic monitoring, public awareness, retrofitting of buildings, and regional cooperation to reduce disaster risk.