In an interview with ERT, Professor Evthymios Lekkas discussed the catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar. He highlighted that the disaster was caused by a significant 7.7 magnitude quake at a shallow focal depth, leading to widespread destruction. The professor explained, “We are dealing with a highly sensitive seismic event due to the directionality of seismic waves along a fault line running approximately north-south, impacting areas as far as China and Thailand.”
The region’s seismic profile is characterized by a tectonic plate mosaic, primarily involving the Eurasian Plate moving horizontally north-south against the Indian Plate. This interaction results in massive seismic activity where two major plates meet, marking one of the most seismically active zones globally.
Professor Lekkas estimated the death toll could range between 50,000 to 100,000 based on geological and structural assessments corroborated by American colleagues and available imagery. However, he noted that official information from Myanmar remains sparse, making precise figures uncertain.
Additionally, damage was reported up to 1,400 kilometers away in Bangkok, notably affecting tall buildings due to the long-period seismic waves traveling vast distances. Regarding aftershocks, Lekkas anticipates continued seismic activity extending towards China and Indonesia, emphasizing the potential for further strong earthquakes.