Myanmar is one of the most seismically active countries in Southeast Asia. As it is on the Indian and Eurasian plate boundary, it is notorious for devastating earthquakes. Oblique subduction, block rotation, and a transform margin have been responsible for the seismic activities of the country. The Sagaing Fault is one of the largest sources of earthquakes in the country, having produced deadly quakes in the past centuries. Along the western coast, offshore Rahkine State, the Sunda Megathrust, where the Indian plate dives beneath the Burma plate is capable of producing large events and tsunamis like the 2004 earthquake. Intermediate-depth earthquakes east of the Chin Range also pose a risk to people. The Shan Plateau is another source of earthquakes, hosting many active strike-slip faults that accommodate block rotation of the Sunda plate. The latest earthquake happened on March 28, 2025.
Earthquakes Notable earthquakes in the history of Myanmar include the following: DateLocationMMIDepth (km)DeathsInjuriesNotesRef.2025-07-15Mandalay4.7 MwV32.01An aftershock of the 2025 Myanmar earthquake.2025-05-17Mandalay5.1 MwVI10.02An aftershock of the 2025 Myanmar earthquake.2025-03-28Mandalay6.7 Mw10.0The strongest aftershock of the 2025 Myanmar earthquake. Struck 11 minutes after.2025-03-28 Sagaing7.7–7.9 MwX10.05,35211,366Widespread damage. Affected parts of Thailand.see 2025 Myanmar earthquake2023-06-07Ayeyarwady4.8 VII10.03Several buildings and a pagoda damaged in Ma-ubin.2023-05-31Mohnyin5.9 VIII10.0Many structures damaged in Hopin and ground effects in the Indawgyi Lake area.2022-07-21Kengtung5.9 VII5.0Damage in Kengtung. Also felt in China, Thailand, and Laos.2021-11-26Hakha6.2 VIII42.5 Minor damage and an injury also occurred in Bangladesh.2018-01-11Bago6.0 VII9.0Felt strongly in many places.2017-03-13Yangon 5.1 VI10.02362016-08-24Magway6.8 VI84.1420Several temples were damaged2016-04-13Sagaing6.9 VI134.8Deaths and damage in India and Bangladesh2012-11-11Sagaing 6.8 VIII9.826Many12 missing2011-03-24Shan 6.9 X12.81512122011-02-04Monywa 6.4 VI85.012009-08-11Coco Islands7.5 VII24.02007-12-25Kachin4.8 IV35.019Severe damage2004-12-26Coco Islands9.2–9.3 -30.070–800Rupture extended to the Coco Islands2003-09-21Magway6.6 VII15.81043Damage at Taungdwingyi1995-07-11Shan6.8 VIII12.5111991-01-05Sagaing7.0 VII19.721988-11-06Shan7.2 X15.9Aftershock of the Lancang earthquake.1988-11-06Shan7.7 17.87003,9001988-08-06Sagaing7.3 VIII98.1330Caused some damage in India and was felt in the Soviet Union. At least 30 injured or missing in Bangladesh.1976-05-29Yunnan7.0 10.0982,400+1975-07-08Mandalay7.0 VIII106.82151970-07-29Sagaing7.0 76.1Damage at Assam.1956-07-16Sagaing7.1 VIII34.3381954-03-21Sagaing7.4 180.0Some damage reported in India.1952-06-19Shan6.7 VIII10.0Homes collapsed and landslides occurred in Yunnan.1950-08-15Assam8.6 XI15.04,800Rupture partially extended to Burma and was felt strongly1946-09-12Sagaing7.8 15.00Doublet earthquake1946-09-12Sagaing8.0 15.001943-10-23Chin7.21941-12-26Shan7.2 10.0>61938-08-16Chin7.2 75.01932-08-14Sagaing7.0 110.0Damage at Assam1931-01-27Kachin7.6 15.001930-12-03Bago7.3 MwX10.0361930-07-18Irrawaddy501930-05-05Bago7.5 X35.0500204+Tsunami1929-08-08Naypyidaw6.6–7.1 10.0–15.0Caused some damage.1929-01-19Kachin5.5 Damage at Htawgaw.1927-12-17Yangon~7.0 Severe damage in northern Yangon1923-06-22Shan7.2 25.01922-05-02Shan6.7 35.01917-07-05BagoShwemawdaw Pagoda fell.1912-05-23Shan 7.815–25.01(?)Several cities damaged1908-12-12Kachin7.2 15.01908-12-12Kachin7.2 15.01906-08-31Northern Sagaing Fault7.0 Soe Thura Tun & Watkinson, I. M. 2016. The Sagaing Fault. In: BARBER, A. J., Rido, M. F., Khin Zaw & Rangin, C. (eds.) Myanmar: Geology, Resources and Tectonics. Geological Society, London, Memoir.1906-06-24Coco Islands7.3 60.0 km01895/1896YangonDestroyed many buildings in Rangoon.1858-08-24Magway7.7 ?An island disappeared.1843-10-30RahkineMay have triggered a tsunami.1842-11-11RahkineTsunami recorded at Cheduba Island.1848-01-03Rahkine6.8–7.2 ?Severe shaking at Ramree Island.1839-03-23Mandalay8.1–8.2 XI12-15.0500+Former capital city Inwa destroyed and abandoned.1762-04-02Chittagong-Rahkine 8.8 XI200+Tsunami1757-06-04Bago1750Rahkine1714-08-04SagaingWaves from a river flooded a nearby city.1620-06-06MandalayFishes in the Irrawaddy River were killed.1564-09-13BagoMahazedi Pagoda destroyed.1485-07-24SagaingSeveral pagodas fell.1467Innwa1429InnwaNote: Only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.
Tsunamis affecting Myanmar
1881 Nicobar Islands earthquake – magnitude 7.9 earthquake, no fatalities 1941 Andaman Islands earthquake – magnitude 7.7 earthquake, moderate damage and unknown fatalities. 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake – magnitude 9.2 earthquake, severe damage, between 400 and 600 people killed.Associated Press (January 4, 2005). Scientists question Burma's low toll. The Age. 2009 Andaman Islands earthquake – magnitude 7.5 earthquake, tsunami warning issued, no injuries or fatalities anywhere. 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake – magnitude 8.6 earthquake, tsunami warning issued, no fatalities.
Gallery
See also
Geology of Myanmar
References
Sources