Mandalay quake exposes hidden seismic risks

On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay in Myanmar, exposing more than 37.2 million people to violent tremors. Its shockwaves reverberated far beyond Myanmar's borders, extending over 1,000 kilometers to Bangkok.

The disaster revealed a stark truth: seismic risks transcend visible fault lines. There is a need therefore to address three key concerns: the transboundary nature of seismic hazards, the limits of early warning systems and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure.

Why was the Mandalay quake felt in Bangkok? The earthquake along the Sagaing Fault exemplifies the concept of transboundary seismic risk, where geological tele-connections amplify distant events. Bangkok sits atop a deep basin of soft marine clay. Unlike hard rock, which absorbs part of the seismic impact and reduces tremors, soft soil acts like a natural amplifier of seismic waves, making even far-off earthquakes feel intense.