A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck Myanmar, claiming over 1,000 lives and causing widespread destruction. The powerful quake also led to significant tremors in Bangkok, Thailand, where a multi-story building collapsed in a popular tourist district, trapping over 43 workers. Authorities in Bangkok have declared a state of emergency, with reports confirming at least nine fatalities and hundreds still missing.
In response to the disaster, several nations have stepped forward to assist Myanmar. India has launched Operation Brahma, delivering an initial shipment of 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid to support relief efforts.
The Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw) is the modern standard for measuring earthquake magnitudes, having replaced the Richter Scale in the 1970s. While the Richter Scale, developed by Charles F. Richter in 1934, was effective for small-to-medium earthquakes, it proved inadequate for measuring larger seismic events, especially those exceeding magnitude 8. Unlike the Richter Scale, which relied on seismic wave amplitudes, the Moment Magnitude Scale calculates an earthquake’s magnitude based on the total energy released. This is determined by the distance a fault moved and the force required to move it, making it more accurate for global seismic activity.
Separate from magnitude measurements, the Mercalli Scale, developed by Giuseppe Mercalli in 1902, assesses earthquake intensity based on eyewitness observations and structural damage. It was later refined in 1931 by Harry Wood and Frank Neumann into the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale. Unlike magnitude-based scales, the Mercalli Scale does not use instruments but provides crucial insights into the impact of earthquakes on people and infrastructure. This scale remains valuable in assessing damage severity and guiding disaster response efforts.
As Myanmar and neighboring regions grapple with the aftermath of this powerful earthquake, international aid and emergency response teams continue working to mitigate the crisis.
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