HistoryData
disaster2012

Earthquake in Myanmar

November 11, 2012

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck northern Myanmar, killing up to 26 people, collapsing a gold mine, and damaging a bridge over the Irrawaddy River.

Quick Facts

Year
2012
Category
disaster

Key Facts

Magnitude
6.8 Mw
Max Mercalli Intensity
VIII (Severe)
Death Toll
Up to 26 people
Epicenter Distance from Shwebo
52 km NNE
Aftershock Magnitude
5.8 Mw
Local Time of Main Shock
07:42

By the Numbers

6.8Mw
Magnitude
26people
Death Toll
52
Epicenter Distance from Shwebo
5.8Mw
Aftershock Magnitude

Location

Map of Shwebo, MyanmarMap of Shwebo, MyanmarShwebo, Myanmar

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The earthquake resulted from seismic activity in Myanmar's tectonically active region near Shwebo. The epicenter was located near the town of Male, approximately 52 km north-northeast of Shwebo and 120 km north of Mandalay, in an area prone to significant crustal stress.

Event

On 11 November 2012 at 07:42 local time, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near Shwebo in northern Myanmar, reaching a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli scale. A magnitude 5.8 aftershock followed later the same day at 17:24 local time.

Consequence

The earthquake killed up to 26 people and injured many others near the epicenter. A section of a bridge under construction fell into the Irrawaddy River near Shwebo, and a gold mine collapsed at Sintku, compounding the structural and human toll of the disaster.

Human Cost

Death toll visualizationEach dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths.

Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 26 (earthquake)

earthquakeMagnitude 6.8 Mw
ShweboMaleSintkuMogokMandalay

Timeline Context

Timeline around 201220122009201020112013201420152012 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXX Olympiad, in London, United KingdomUEFA Euro 2012 — 14th European association football championship2012 Summer Paralympics — 2012 edition of the Summer ParalympicsJanuary 2012 — month of 20122012 Formula One World Championship — 63rd season of Formula One motor racingAthletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics — athletics events at the OlympicsFootball at the 2012 Summer Olympics — 2012 edition of the association football torunaments during the Olympic Summer Games2012 Africa Cup of Nations — football tournament2012-shwebo-earthquake-2012