Arakan State advised to be mindful of earthquake-tsunami risks

By Thiha 25 Nov 2020

Thiha | DMG
25 November 2020, Sittwe

At least three seismic faults in Arakan State could cause strong earthquakes with the potential to trigger tsunamis, warned Dr. Myo Thant, secretary of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee.

Due to the presence of the Mrauk-U, Kaladan and Thahtay Chaung faults in Arakan State, the danger of earthquakes needs to be considered as there is an ongoing process of encroachment of the Indian Plate off the Arakan coast, he added.

“The Sagaing Fault and the Kabaw Fault in Myanmar are caused by the Indian Plate extending off the Arakan coast into the Myanmar Plate. The plate is penetrating at a rate of 46 millimetres per year. If the plate were [to unleash] an earthquake, it would be above 9 on the Richter scale. Therefore, it can be said that there is a worrying situation due to the [possibility of a] tsunami in Arakan State,” Dr. Myo Thant said, adding that the tectonics of Arakan State are in need of further study to better understand the associated risks.

“According to research, an earthquake jolted Arakan State in 1762 and had a magnitude of more than 8. There is evidence of a tsunami off the coast of Arakan due to this strong earthquake. It’s been more than 250 years without a [major] earthquake in Arakan State; the longer without a quake, the greater the chance of an earthquake. In the event of an earthquake, the magnitude is likely to be above 7,” the seismologist said.

Six seismometers have been installed in Arakan State to study seismic activity.

“I have seen that most locals in Arakan State are more worried about other natural disasters than earthquakes. The risk of earthquakes also needs to be considered as a major factor in the development process, or when people are considering mitigating natural disasters,” Dr. Myo Thant said.

The department only conducts basic natural disaster management training courses, disaster drills and lectures on earthquake hazards, rather than providing specific information about earthquakes, said U Ye Min Oo, staff officer from the Department of Disaster Management under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

“Earthquake drills were conducted in different states and regions in the past, but after I arrived here, a few disaster drills were held. At present, these courses have been suspended amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

On August 18, 2019, there was a series of earthquakes in Arakan State with magnitudes from 4.7 to 5.5.

According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, there were 69 earthquakes in Myanmar and an earthquake in the Andaman Sea, totaling 70 earthquakes in 2017, and 165 earthquakes nationwide in 2018.