Factbox-What caused the powerful earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand?

Yahoo! News - Mar 28th, 2025
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A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck Myanmar's Sagaing region near Mandalay, causing widespread destruction and impacting neighboring Thailand. Experts from University College London and the British Geological Survey highlighted the quake's shallow depth of 10 km, which intensified the damage. Initial estimates from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program suggest fatalities could range between 10,000 and 100,000, with potential economic losses up to 70% of Myanmar's GDP.

Myanmar is located on a tectonic plate boundary, making it a seismically active area, but significant quakes in the Sagaing region are rare. This rarity has led to a lack of preparedness in infrastructure, exacerbating the quake's impact. The last major quake in the region was in 1956, meaning many buildings were not constructed to withstand such seismic forces. This event highlights the urgent need for improved building standards and disaster readiness in the region to prevent future catastrophes.

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RATING

7.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The news story provides a comprehensive and generally accurate account of the earthquake in Myanmar, supported by expert opinions and scientific analysis. It effectively communicates complex seismic concepts in an accessible manner, enhancing reader understanding. The article's timely reporting on a significant event ensures its relevance and public interest, though its impact could be strengthened by including practical solutions for disaster preparedness.

While the article maintains a high level of clarity and readability, it could benefit from additional perspectives, particularly from local authorities and residents, to provide a more balanced and human-centered narrative. The potential controversy surrounding disaster preparedness and policy responses is not directly addressed but may arise from the article's focus on Myanmar's vulnerabilities.

Overall, the article succeeds in informing readers about the earthquake's causes and impacts, while highlighting the importance of preparedness and resilience in seismically active regions. By incorporating more diverse perspectives and practical recommendations, the article could further enhance its engagement and impact on public discourse.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The news story provides a generally accurate account of the earthquake in Myanmar, with several key claims that are verifiable through authoritative sources. For instance, the reported magnitude of 7.7 and the location near Mandalay align with typical seismic data that can be cross-verified with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The story accurately describes Myanmar's tectonic setting, noting the boundary between the India Plate and Eurasia Plate, which is consistent with geological maps and expert analyses.

However, the claim about the potential fatalities and economic impact, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 deaths and up to 70% of GDP, is speculative and based on forecasts. These figures require careful verification against official reports and projections to ensure they are not exaggerated. The mention of historical seismic activity, such as the 6.8 magnitude quake in 2012, is factual and can be confirmed through historical earthquake records.

Overall, the story is factually sound but includes some speculative elements that need cautious interpretation. The reliance on expert opinions from credible institutions like University College London adds to its accuracy, though the speculative nature of some predictions slightly detracts from the overall precision.

7
Balance

The article presents a balanced view by incorporating insights from multiple experts, including Joanna Faure Walker and Bill McGuire from University College London, and Roger Musson from the British Geological Survey. This diversity of expert opinions helps provide a well-rounded perspective on the earthquake's causes and impacts.

However, the story could benefit from including perspectives from local authorities or organizations within Myanmar to provide a more comprehensive view of the situation on the ground. The focus is primarily on the scientific and technical aspects of the earthquake, which, while important, may overlook the human and social dimensions of the disaster.

By including a broader range of voices, particularly from those directly affected or involved in the response, the article could achieve a more balanced representation of perspectives. Despite this, the current balance between scientific analysis and expert opinion is commendable.

8
Clarity

The article is clearly written, with a logical structure that guides the reader through the key points regarding the earthquake's causes, impacts, and Myanmar's vulnerability. The use of straightforward language and clear explanations of technical terms, such as 'strike-slip' quakes, makes the article accessible to a general audience.

The inclusion of expert quotes is well-integrated into the narrative, providing clarity and supporting the article's claims. The explanation of why the earthquake was particularly damaging, due to its shallow depth, is effectively communicated and easy to understand.

While the article is generally clear, it could benefit from more detailed explanations of certain technical aspects, such as the specific characteristics of the tectonic plates involved. Overall, the article maintains a high level of clarity, making complex seismic concepts understandable for readers.

8
Source quality

The quality of sources used in the article is high, with reliance on reputable institutions and experts in the field of seismology. The inclusion of insights from University College London and the British Geological Survey provides authoritative and credible perspectives on the earthquake's characteristics and impacts.

The article cites specific experts by name, such as Joanna Faure Walker and Roger Musson, which adds to the credibility and reliability of the information presented. These experts are well-regarded in their fields, lending weight to their analyses and opinions.

However, the article could enhance its source quality by including direct statements or data from local authorities or international organizations involved in the disaster response, which would provide additional context and verification for some of the claims, particularly those related to potential casualties and economic impacts.

7
Transparency

The article is reasonably transparent in its presentation of information, clearly attributing expert opinions and providing context for the claims made. The methodology behind the casualty and economic impact estimates is briefly mentioned, noting that they are based on past data and Myanmar's preparedness levels.

However, the article could improve transparency by providing more detailed explanations of how these estimates are calculated and the potential margin of error involved. This would help readers understand the basis for these projections and the factors that influence their accuracy.

Additionally, while expert opinions are cited, the article does not delve deeply into the potential conflicts of interest or biases that these experts might have, which would further enhance transparency. Overall, the article does a good job of disclosing the sources of its information, but more detailed explanations of the methodologies used would be beneficial.

Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Myanmar_earthquake
  2. https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/myanmar-thailand-bangkok-earthquake/?id=120257120
  3. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/earthquake-bangkok-thailand-myanmar-strong/
  4. https://www.directrelief.org/2025/03/major-earthquake-rocks-myanmar-and-thailand-causing-widespread-damage/