The deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar on Friday had as much energy as more than 300 atomic bombs combined, according to a leading American geologist.
“The force that a quake like this releases is about 334 atomic bombs,” geologist Jess Phoenix told CNN.
She also cautioned that aftershocks from the earthquake, the death toll from which has surpassed 1,600, “could persist for months.” This is because the Indian tectonic plate continues to collide with the Eurasian plate beneath Myanmar, the geologist noted.
Phoenix further said there could be hindrances in grasping the full extent of the catastrophe.
“Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, combined with a communication blackout, is obstructing the outside world from grasping the full impact of the earthquake,” she stated.
The Asian nation is ruled by a military junta that overthrew the civilian government in February 2021. The junta’s top leader has called for help from “any country.”
Stepping forward, India has dispatched essential supplies such as blankets, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, sleeping bags, solar lamps, food packets, and kitchen sets to Myanmar, and deployed a search and rescue team along with a medical unit, in its neighbouring country.

India’s medical assistance mission for Myanmar has been named “Operation Brahma.”
The earthquake was also felt in countries around Myanmar, including Thailand, with at least 17 fatalities in Thailand’s capital Bangkok.