April 2, 2025: A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit Myanmar on March 28, resulting in a massive loss of life and widespread destruction. The current death toll stands at 2,700 but experts warn that the final count could be much higher.

Preliminary research suggests that this earthquake was a rare type known as a supershear earthquake. According to seismologist Frederik Tilmann, this type of rupture is the earthquake equivalent of a supersonic jet. In a supershear earthquake, the ground rupture travels faster than the seismic waves it produces, concentrating seismic energy and causing greater damage at greater distances.

The massive sagaing fault, which runs north-south through the heart of Myanmar, is believed to have ruptured over 400 kilometres or more during the quake.

The impact of the earthquake was felt far beyond Myanmar’s border. In Bangkok, Thailand, a high-rise building under construction collapsed, despite being located over 1000 kms from the epicentre.