Early Friday, an important 7.7 Magnitude earthquake That originated near Mandalay, Myanmar, shook the earth to Bangkok, about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) away.
Two cities affected in Myanmar suffered extensive damage, with images of the capital, Naypyidaw, which shows rescue teams by taking the victims of the rubble of collapsed buildings. The authorities in Bangkok said the deaths had occurred in three construction sites, including a high height that collapsed.
Experts say that the earthquake, which occurred along the saga failure, was close to the surface of the Earth, generating intense seismic forces. Preliminary estimates In the United States Geological Service, it shows that almost 800,000 people in Myanmar may have been within the most violent tremor area and that the tolls of death exceed 1,000 people, and perhaps much higher, they are probable.
The earth’s crust is divided into several pieces called tectonic plates, which fit as a puzzle.
This formation is “mainly stable, but along the edges they are moving,” said the Geophysicist of Columbia University, Michael Steckler.
The pressure accumulates when sliding plates are stuck, increasing “very slowly for decades or for hundreds of years, and suddenly the rock plates jump,” which causes tremors caused by an earthquake, Steckler said.
The earthquakes generally occur along the edges of the tectonic plates. But their impacts can feel in a broader region.
The earthquakes that occur in the ocean do not always attract attention, but those that occur near where people live can cause deaths and injuries, more frequently due to collapsed buildings.
Scientists have a good idea where earthquakes are likely to occur, “but we cannot predict when they will occur,” said USGS YECK seismologist.
However, after the large initial earthquake, researchers can project that other smaller earthquakes are likely, called replicas to call replicas.
Replicas are activated “due to changes in stress on Earth from the main crash,” said Yeck.
Given the magnitude of the earthquake in Myanmar, “you will probably see replicas during the coming months,” said Steckler.
In world regions with known active failures, including California and Japan, construction codes are often designed to support earthquakes. But that is not true everywhere.
“If you feel trembling, the guide depends on where he is in the world,” said Yeck.
In many countries, including the United States, if an earthquake occurs inside, it is advisable to fall to the ground, cover its head, for example, crawling under a desk or other resistant structure, and cling to that structure, he said. Try to avoid areas near glass windows and do not use buildings elevators.
If you are outside, try to remain in an area away from the buildings or trees that could fall.
Depending on the location, there may be secondary risks triggered by earthquakes, such as landslides, fires or tsunamis, he said.
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