Myanmar earthquake: What is a 7.7 magnitude earthquake? | BBC News

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake – which the US Geological Survey says had an epicentre in central Myanmar – has also been felt in neighbouring countries, including Thailand where an unfinished high-rise has collapsed.

But what do we mean when we say a 7.7 magnitude earthquake?

BBC science reporter Esme Stallard explains that it’s a measure of momentum and how much movement there has been in the top layer of the earth.

Mynamar is a very tectonically active region – as it’s situated at the junction of 4 tectonic plates.

However the magnitude of the earthquake is unusual – the BBC believe the reason was because the earthquake occurred only 10 killometres below the earth’s crust.

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