M6.8 Earthquake, Myanmar

M 6.8 Myanmar

The earthquake on November 11th, 2012 was a result of right lateral strike-slip faulting. This region accommodates movement between the Indian plate to the west and the eastern Sunda and Eurasian plates. The Indian plate moves north-northeast with respect to the Eurasian plate at a velocity of ~50mm per year.  

Moderate to large earthquakes occur relatively frequently in Myanmar; the region within 250 km of the November 11 earthquake has hosted 8 earthquakes of M 6 or larger over the past 40 years, two of which had magnitudes greater than M 7.

Further information about this and other earthquakes can be found at the USGS Earthquakes Hazards Program

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