A 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar and the surrounding areas in Thailand. Initial reports state that at least 150 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing. The quake was so strong that seismograms in Ireland sensed the event.
Thirty-three minutes after the Thailand and Myanmar earthquake, on the Island of Valentia, off County Kerry and in Dublin, seismograms showed sound waves readings over a 15-minute period, emphasising the magnitude of the earthquake, reports WeatherIre.
The 7.7 magnitude quake, with an epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar‘s second largest city, struck at midday and was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock.
In the Thai capital, Myanmar, three people were killed when a seven-story building under construction collapsed. Videos from the region show the widespread destruction caused by the quake.
"The death toll and injuries are expected to rise," Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar's military government, said.
Scientists have warned that the total number of fatalities is most likely to be in the range of 10,000 and 100,000.
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Authorities in the Thai capital of Bangkok have declared the city a disaster area.
The Irish Embassy in Thailand has urged Irish citizens in need of consular assistance to contact the Embassy at +66 2 016 1360.
“We encourage citizens to follow the instructions of local authorities in the event of an emergency,” the embassy added.
Earthquakes and Ireland
Ireland is not located near any major tectonic plate boundaries, so it experiences very few significant earthquakes. However, the country does have a network of seismometers that detect and record seismic activity, including small local tremors and distant quakes from around the world.
Ireland itself experiences only a few minor earthquakes each year, typically with magnitudes below 2.5, which are rarely felt by people. Most of the seismic activity detected comes from distant earthquakes, particularly from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge or large quakes in Europe and beyond. The INSN publishes real-time data and occasional reports when a local earthquake is strong enough to be noticed.
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