A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.6 Richter Scale with its epicenter inside Myanmar (about 5 miles northeast of Minbya), latitude 20.42°N, longitude 93.32°E, depth 77 kilometers, about 34 miles northeast of Sittwe seismological observatory was recorded on January 23, 2020, announced the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH).
“There are small faults nearby and although it is a moderate quake, it doesn’t make many damages as the depth is deep. Aftershocks may also not occur,” said Dr Kyaw Moe Oo, Director General of the DMH.
Sagaing Fault, a 600-mile long fault stretching from north to south and Myanmar, also has small faults in addition to Kyaukkyan and Kabaw faults.
The quake is a danger which cannot be expected in advance. People need to check buildings and furniture to avoid casualties and government departments have to be alerted to respond and prepare, said experts.
