Watch: Stunning Footage Captures Earth Splitting Apart During Myanmar’s March Earthquake

In March, Myanmar experienced a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake, shaking the ground and claiming over 3,600 lives. The tremors were felt as far away as Bangkok. A remarkable video captured the moment the ground shifted, showing a metal gate shaking violently before it flew open, offering us a rare glimpse of a surface rupture. This might be the first time such an event was recorded on video.

The footage was shared by engineer Htin Aung on Facebook. It later gained traction on YouTube, where it was highlighted as a significant moment in seismology. Aung filmed it at GP Energy Myanmar’s Thapyawa solar farm.

Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates, the huge slabs that make up the Earth’s crust, shift. In Myanmar, the Sagaing Fault runs through the country, where the Sunda and Burma plates meet. As these plates slide past each other, they can cause massive earthquakes. In this case, the Sagaing Fault is a strike-slip fault, allowing for horizontal movement. The video shows this motion vividly as the ground on one side abruptly slides past the other.

Rick Aster, a geophysicist at Colorado State University, praised the video, stating it may lead to significant research. “I have no doubt that seismologists will take a very close look at this,” he told Live Science. “It will probably lead to some kind of a publication at some point.”

Earthquakes can be unpredictable and destructive. Despite advancements in science, experts still struggle to predict them accurately. For instance, California’s infamous San Andreas Fault could be primed for a massive quake, often referred to as the “Big One.” Yet, predicting when such events will happen remains uncertain. As such, people living near fault lines should focus on preparedness.

Interestingly, the recent earthquake in Myanmar also aligns with the trend of increasing seismic activity worldwide. According to a report from the US Geological Survey, the number of significant earthquakes has risen over the past decade. This highlights the importance of understanding our planet’s tectonic dynamics and being ready for the inevitable.

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