Myanmar Earthquake: Karastathis Warns of the Dangerous 1,200 km Fault Line

A massive fault line spanning 1,200 kilometers caused a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, according to Vasilis Karastathis, director of the Geodynamic Institute. Speaking with ERT, he emphasized that this fault is particularly dangerous as it runs directly beneath cities. “This area where the earthquake occurred is at the boundary of tectonic plates,” Karastathis explained. The fault responsible for the quake has produced six major earthquakes exceeding 7 on the Richter scale over the past century. He noted that this isn’t an ordinary seismic zone but rather one of the world’s largest straight-line faults, making it exceptionally hazardous due to its rapid rupture propagation. Regarding potential casualties, Karastathis pointed out that historically, wooden structures from earlier decades mitigated damage during similar events. However, modern concrete buildings may pose greater risks depending on construction standards. Additionally, the aftershock sequence will likely be extensive and frequent, with the possibility of another large earthquake striking nearby segments of the fault. The entire 1,200-kilometer zone did not rupture all at once; thus, other sections could fail, much like what happened in 1929-1930 and 1946 when multiple significant quakes occurred sequentially. Seismic activity in this region is expected to persist for many months.