A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 released an energy equivalent to 334 atomic bombs, according to geologist Jess Phoenix, who warned that aftershocks could continue for months.
Phoenix explained that the earthquake occurred due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, and she warned that Myanmar’s ongoing civil war would further complicate rescue efforts.
According to local authorities, the death toll has surpassed 1,000, with at least 2,376 people injured. However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) warns that the final toll could exceed 10,000 based on early estimates.
Rescue operations resumed early Saturday, with survivors feared to be trapped under rubble.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located just 17.2 kilometers (10.7 miles) from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to approximately 1.5 million people.
